Maybe you are looking for a career change because you have school-age children of your own and would like to work when they are in school. Maybe you have spent many years in another profession and have been thinking of a change to nursing. Maybe you are a current RN in a medical office or hospital, and you are looking for a change of pace. Becoming a school nurse could be the career choice or change you are seeking.
What does a school nurse do?
School nurses are the primary medical resource for children and school staff during the school day. Today's students may have diverse and complex health problems, as well as problems caused by immigration, homelessness, divorce, remarriage, poverty, substance abuse and violence. School nursing plays a critical role in coordinating school responses to all these issues. School nurses not only support the physical wellbeing of children, but also their academic success and life-long achievement.
School nurses are responsible for job duties that help the entire school population stay healthy. They encourage healthy mental and physical development, assess and monitor the immunization status of each student, provide screening and referral for health conditions, and collaborate with faculty, parents and students on health and safety awareness programs. School nurses train others, such as showing staff how to perform CPR, first aid and emergency medication administration.
What is needed to become a school nurse?
Beyond being caring, compassionate and having the necessary qualifications that are listed below, school nurses will also benefit from being a quick thinker, having excellent communication skills, being able to pay attention to details, and having exceptional judgement. All these traits come in handy when they train school staff and educate families or groups of students. Strong organization skills will also help school nurses manage their caseload and keep track of required administrative paperwork.
Minimum Qualifications*:
- Current Registered Nurse License
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preliminary or Clear Standard Designated Services Credential with Specialization in Health or a valid Health & Development Credential issued before 1974 or must qualify for School Nurse Services Credential
- Current CPR/BLS and First Aid Certification
- Valid California Driver's License
*Please note that these are examples of minimum qualifications. Please view each school districts job postings for their individual school nurse position requirements. The annual workday calendars and salary ranges can also be viewed at each school districts job postings and individual websites.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
What are the benefits of becoming a school nurse?
One of the greatest advantages of becoming a school nurse is your weekly workload. Your work hours will be stable. Unlike being a nurse in a hospital or emergency room, you will not work on evenings and weekends. Many nurses struggle with the demanding and erratic hours that often include very late night or very early morning shifts. These shifts can also be very long. If you are a school nurse, you will likely have the entire summer off. While other healthcare professionals struggle to plan vacation time, you will be able to count on annual time off.
The normal work year is 10 or 11 months with workdays between 182 – 210 depending on the school district schedule and need. The annual salary can range from $59,197 – $116,900 along with annual stipends for Master's and Doctoral Degrees. You will also receive medical and dental coverage. The salary ranges and benefits are offered directly from each school district and what is offered may vary.
What do current school nurses have to say about their careers?
"After working 20 years in the hospital/ICU (working nights, weekends, and holidays), I love that in school nursing I can still work fulltime but be home and available for my family!"
~ Campbell Union School District School Nurse
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"I love being able to work with families improve their health as a whole, not just individually. Being a school nurse is the best!"
~ San Jose Unified School District School Nurse
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"I am passionate about School Nursing because I truly believe that what we do for kids - caring for them and connecting them with the resources they need to stay well and learn best - is invaluable to communities and critical to bringing up successful, healthy adults. I love the challenge of learning about a wide variety of health concerns, especially across different cultures, which has really expanded my knowledge base. The challenges of School Nursing have made me a better nurse."
~ Cupertino Union School District School Nurse
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"I like being a School Nurse because it allows me the opportunity to help lead the way to advance health and support education by ensuring that students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn."
~ San Jose Unified School District School Nurse
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"Every day is different. Forget the routine and be flexible."
~ Gilroy Unified School District School Nurse
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"For me, school nursing represents the piece in the chain that bridges the health and education, a liaison between the healthcare, families and community and an essential piece in addressing the chronic and acute conditions of the students as well as prevention and health promotion."
~ Alum Rock Union School District School Nurse
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"I love being a school nurse because I'm able to make sure that a student's health isn't a barrier to them accessing their education, and I can hopefully help keep them out of the hospital. I really appreciate being able to follow students and their families through their educational journey and see all the successes they have along the way!"
~ Palo Alto Unified School District School Nurse
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"Being able to help others and helping to make an impact in my community. Having my summers off is wonderful too!"
~ Cupertino Union School District School Nurse