Most people remember while growing up the school nurse who was there to take care of minor injuries and sickness. Today, a school nursing career is still a strong consideration. Whether a private or public educational institution, or elementary, junior high, high school, or college, more than likely a School Nurse is part of the staff. A number of benefits come from being this type of nurse such as the chance to care for children but also educate them about health and wellness, set work hours, and good income.
School Nursing Career, Role of a School Nurse
Initially, a School Nurse provided medical care within the school itself but today, this medical professional is much more involved. For instance, this nurse plays a key role in the encouragement of healthy physical and mental development, provides screening for certain health issues and then provides appropriate referrals, assesses and monitors student immunization status, works closely with the student but also school faculty and parents regarding various health and safety programs, offers case management services, offers leadership for a healthy school environment, and works as a liaison between family, faculty, and healthcare providers whenever needed.
In addition to working in an actual school environment, sometimes a School Nurse will perform duties within the community. Regardless, the number one goal of this professional is to offer students health and wellness support while attending school, thereby enhancing long-term success.
School Nurse Educational Requirements
To work as a School Nurse, the basic requirement is to have a Registered Nurse license, having completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) or better yet, a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN). In addition, different certifications would be mandatory although these vary from state-to-state. However, for someone to be successful in a school nursing career, specific skills are needed. This type of nurse may also need to obtain a teaching certificate and earn an additional degree such as Master’s Degree in Public Health, Master’s Degree in Counseling, or Master’s Degree in Education.
Another thing to consider is that some states require state certification and sometimes, a School Nurse would need to finish a voluntary program through the National Board for Certification of School Nurses whereby National Certified School Nurse (NCSN) credentials would be achieved. Finally, because of the nature of the work, a person working in this career would need to have patience, compassion, have the ability to work independently, supervise, and in certain situations, delegate.
School Nurse Salaries
The salary range for a School Nurse in the United States is from $35,000 to $55,000 with the average annual income around $43,000 although actual compensation would depend on the size of the school, whether the school was public or private, geographic location, and the person’s education level, years of experience, and overall qualifications in nursing.
School Nursing Career Opportunities
The future for a school nursing career is very promising, making this a very attractive opportunity for many people. Three factors in particular play a role in expected rise in demand over the next decade.
1. As the number of families going through divorce, layoffs, and situations of violence, drugs, and alcohol is likely to increase, chances are good that children within the home will not receive the level of healthcare needed and many will face psychological problems.
2. The types of mental and physical problems children now face are more complex, which have a better chance of successful treatment with early identification and/or prevention. Since a School Nurse is in a position to accomplish this, his or her role becomes even more valuable.
3. With nursing schools now offering more advanced training, additional certifications, and vast learning opportunities, the School Nurse is capable of much more than even a few years ago, making this job in even greater demand.
