A Healthy Career as a School Nurse

School nursing provides as-needed emergency and non-emergency health care to students within the educational system. If you become a school nurse, you may find yourself in high demand during the cold and flu season, but managing school-wide health initiatives will keep you busy throughout the year. Your typical nursing duties might include the following:

• Assessing and monitoring the immunization status of each student

• Providing regular vision, hearing and dental screenings

• Coordinating health fairs and lectures

• Offering information and resources regarding normal human development

• Teaching classes on health and nutrition

• Handling minor health problems and intervening with actual and potential health risks

• Dispensing prescribed medications to students throughout the day

• Implementing individualized health care plans for students with special health needs

School nursing typically has nurses working in a private office setting where they can observe and treat students. The office may have a medical table or couch, a desk, and a station to store medical supplies and prescription medications for students with chronic health conditions, including diabetes and asthma.

The American Federation of Teachers reports that approximately half of the 45,000 school nurses employed in the United States cover the health care needs of three or more different schools. Depending on a district's needs, school nurses may work a set number of hours at each assigned school per day or per week, and they may tend to a dozen or more students on a daily basis.

If you become a school nurse, you may spend additional time each week completing required medical paperwork, attending conferences or school meetings, and possibly making home visits.

According to Salary.com, the average annual salary for school nurses ranges from $35,037 to $55,361 per year, with the top 10 percent earning $65,600 or more. Benefits for school nurses vary based on the school district where they work. In districts where nurses belong to the teachers union, they typically earn salaries comparable to those of teachers and receive the same health insurance and retirement benefits. A commonly celebrated perk of the career is the opportunity for nurse/parents to work during the same hours their children attend school.

While the school nursing job market is tight, you can break into the field by substituting for other school nurses. Substituting will give you the opportunity to gain experience, network with other nurses, and give administrators a chance to see how well you perform under pressure, all of which can lead to a permanent position in another school or nearby district.

If you've ever wondered about school nurse requirements, you've come to the right place. Educational requirements for school nurses vary widely from state to state, so you should carefully research your state's laws at your state Department of Education before selecting a nursing education program. Every state requires that school nurses hold a registered nursing license (RN). (See the list of RN schools on our sister site to find RN programs.) Most states require a bachelor's degree, and some require a master's. Some school nurses choose to get an interdisciplinary education and hold a master's degree in education, public health or counseling.

In general, in one to two years, you can complete an associate's degree or nursing certificate program, which typically includes a school nurse internship. You will find specialized school nurse training programs at  4-year colleges and universities and at vocational schools, some of which offer courses online. See our list of school nursing programs for more information.

As with school nurse educational requirements, certification standards for school nurses vary from state to state, with some states requiring national school nurse certification. The National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN) offers a higher level, national certification to registered nurses who meet these requirements:

• Hold a bachelor's degree in nursing or a health related field
• Work in school health services or school health related services
• Pass a certification exam

School nursing plays a pivotal role in the health and welfare of students across the United States. The job offers significant autonomy, steady challenges and immeasurable rewards. Keeping children in good health makes them stronger learners, and that strength builds a greater future for us all. For more information, read the informative article on school nursing on our sister site All Nursing Schools.

_{Source: Salary.com 2010}