School Nurse
Madison Duello
Description of Occupation
School nurses oversee school health policies and programs that are implemented. They also take care of students and staff and communicate problems with the patient or to parents at home.
Certifications Necessary
What is needed for a school nurse is a state license as an RN and certification through the National Board of Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN). They will also need 1,000 hours of school nursing experience prior to certification
Daily Activities of a School Nurse
School nurses will assess health complaints of students and staff, create a system for managing emergencies, take care of immunization verifications and reporting infectious diseases, and take care of student and staff that have chronic health issues
Education Requirements
An additional four year Bachelor's degree along with becoming a registered nurse is the minimum that can be done to work in a school.
Payday: Average Income of a School Nurse
The average annual salary of a school nurse is $43,856.
Necessary Skills to be a Successful School Nurse
To become a school nurse come key skills that are needed are communication, organization, leadership, critical-thinking, patience, computer skills (medical software), and technical skills (proficiency with medical equipment).
Practice Settings: Where Would You Work?
School nurses would work in any level of schools ranging from elementary to college.
Fun Facts
1. The amount of employed registered nurses is projected to grow 26% from 2010 to 2020.
2. Some schools are trying to limit the amount of school nurses because of budget concerns.
3. Nurses have been working in schools since the 1800's
A Day in the Life of a School Nurse
A Day in the Life - Sheila (School Nurse)