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School nurses focus exclusively on the students and staff of a public or private school or school district. This type of nursing career allows you to support not just the physical well being of children, but also their academic success and life-long achievement. School nurses enjoy predictable hours and are in great demand, particularly if they have what it takes to work with special needs students.  School Nurse Career Overview School nursing is a type of community nursing, or nursing outside of a hospital setting that focuses practice on a particular community. School nurses do much more than simply intervene when students exhibit actual or potential health problems. Here are some of their responsibilities: - Proactively encourage healthy mental and physical development
- Assess and monitor the immunization status of each student
- Provide screening and referral for health conditions
- Collaborate with faculty, parents and students on health and safety awareness programs
- Play a leadership role in ensuring a healthy school environment
- Provide case management services, serving as a liaison between school personnel, family, community and health providers
The overall goal of a student nurse is to support student success in the learning process. School nurses are typically hired by private schools, public schools, parochial schools or charter schools. They may also be employed by local Boards of Education, Departments of Health, universities or hospitals. School Nurse Education School nurses are registered nurses (RNs). Beyond this basic requirement, every state has different education and certification standards, so it's important to learn your state's requirements before choosing a nursing school program. To become a school nurse, you will need to acquire these skills and meet these requirements: - You will need to develop advanced skills, including the ability to practice independently, supervise others and delegate care in a community setting.
- You will need either a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) or a master's degree (MSN). Some states require a bachelor's degree and others require a master's degree, so you'll need to research the requirement in your state.
- You may be required to achieve dual certification as a RN and a teacher.
- You may also pursue an interdisciplinary education to earn a Master's Degree in Education, Public Health or Counseling.
- State certification may be required. Many school nurses also complete a voluntary program to earn National Certified School Nurse (NCSN) credentials. This national certification program is provided through the National Board for Certification of School Nurses . Additional information is available from the National Association of School Nurses.
School Nurse Salary According to Salary.com, the median salary for a school nurse in the US is $42,467. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,929 and $53,622. Your salary as a school nurse will vary based on the type and size of school you work for, the area of the country, your qualifications and your experience. School Nurse Career Outlook The demand for all types of nurses is expected to increase significantly over the next 10 years (see information about the current nursing shortage.) In general, the more training, certifications and experience a nurse has, the more demand there will be for his or her skill set. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there an increasing need and demand for school health services. Today's students have more diverse and complex health problems, as well as problems caused by immigration, homelessness, divorce, remarriage, poverty, substance abuse and violence. School nurses play a critical role in coordinating school responses to all these issues. Job demand positively affects salaries, schedules, job openings and the availability of training institutions and government grants for education. These reasons, coupled with the fact that nursing is a rewarding profession, make today a great time to become a school nurse. Sources:
National Association of School Nurses, 2008.
American Academy of Pediatrics - Committee on School Health, 2008 |
School Nurse
Career at a Glance Summers Off Most school districts don't hold school during the summer, so you get the summers off in addition to your vacation benefits! Less Stress Working in a school setting can be a lot less stressful than working in a hospital setting. You're typically not working with trauma or seriously ill patients; instead, you're promoting academic achievement and overall student well-being by helping students maintain their health. There's a Demand The demand for school nurses is high in individual schools as well as school districts. School nurses are specialized, and with the current nursing shortage, there is a strong demand for qualified individuals. Source:
Soliant Health, 2008. Spotlight School
Azusa University offers combined school nurse services credential programs. Through these programs, students develop theoretical and practical expertise in nursing and education applied to basic health services in the public schools (K-12). This enables them to establish, maintain and coordinate a comprehensive school health program. How to Pay for Nursing School |
