Nursing is a respected profession, nursing jobs are always in demand and a career in nursing can provide a stable, interesting and rewarding job path. There are never enough trained nurses to fill all the available positions. Statistics show that there is a shortage of approximately 150,000 nurses in the US, and the shortage is expected to get worse in future years. A nursing job can offer flexibility, choices, security and stability, all while providing a vital service to people in need. If you are thinking about a career in nursing, or going back to school to become a nurse, consider a career as a school nurse; you can begin your new career by enrolling in offline or online courses.
Job Responsibilities
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) defines a school nurse as a specialized nurse working to advance both academic success and a future of achievement. They do this by providing a healthy environment for the student and the family. Most elementary and secondary schools, both public and private, have a school nurse on staff. School nurses perform a variety of duties to make sure that school health rules are followed. Elementary school nurse jobs may involve checking students for head lice, evaluating coughs and colds, or treating scrapes and cuts. High school nurse jobs may be more involved with treating athlete’s injuries or accidents. A school nurse helps students stay healthy by providing treatment and medicine, and by teaching about school health related to communicable diseases and other issues.
Educational Requirements
To become a school nurse, you need to become a Registered Nurse (RN) first. In the US, there are two main categories of nursing credentials: LPN (or the very similar LVN) and RN. There are differences between an RN and LPN, which usually factor into nursing salaries and job opportunities. Requirements for school nurse jobs may vary from state to state, but most states require a Bachelor’s degree, an RN and a school nurse certificate. Education through a local university or online nursing program is required to get proper documentation. In addition to traditional schools, several excellent, accredited online nursing schools offer training and nursing degrees that can help you achieve your career goals. You will be required to complete an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing before working school nurse jobs. You can find excellent online nursing programs which will help you obtain these degrees. After getting either degree, you must pass a national exam for registered nurses: the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN); once you’ve passed, you can practice as a registered nurse.
Gain Experience
You may want to consider working for a year or two in a medical or surgical setting to gain experience before applying for school nurse jobs. This will give you a great deal of important experience dealing with all sorts of nursing situations and will give you even greater credentials as a school nurse.
Salary and Career Outlook
School nurses enjoy competitive nurse salaries, benefits, and flexible hours. The average annual salary for a school nurse is $43,856. During the summer months, there are jobs available as substitute nurses or pediatric nurses—or, if you prefer, you can use the time off to spend the summer with your family or to pick up continuing education credits in school health care. You can learn more about the expectations and career outlook for school nurses at the NASN website.
Being a school nurse puts you in the “front lines” of public health care. You will be dealing with students, parents, faculty and administration as well as with public health officials. You may very well be the first person who picks up on hearing or visual disabilities or learning disabilities. A school nurse can play an incredibly vital role in the health of the students and the community—a vital role that is constantly in demand and very well respected.