School Nurse
Ciera Aranda
Occupation and Description
The school nurse is the leader in the school community to educate school health policies and programs. They also provide health care to the staff and students in the school and can refer them to their healthcare provider. Their most important role is to provide a healthy school environment.
Occupation and Description Link
Article Title: Role of the School Nurse
Certifications Necessary to Practice
They must have their registered nurse license with a degree from an approved training program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Must also meet education/experience requirements as well pass the exam.
Certifications Necessary to Practice Link
Article Title: How to Become a School Nurse, Subtitle Requirements, Subtitle Licensing/Certification
Daily Activites: Nature of the Work
Activities that school nurses perform daily are:
- referring ill students to other care providers
- contacting parents of sick children
- provide health counseling to the students
- health screenings
- emergency planning when something serious happens
Daily Activites Link
Article Title: Specific Activities of a School Nurse
Education Requirements
Must have 4 years bachelor's degree and be a registered nurse (RN) certification as the minimum standard. The nursing education covers classroom instruction as well as clinical experiences in different health care settings.
Education Requirements Link
Article Title: How to Become a School Nurse, Subtitle Requirements, Subtitle Education
Payday- What is average income?
The average annual salary is $43,856
Average Income Link
Article Title: How to Become a School Nurse, Subtitle Salary
What skills are necessary to be successful in this profession?
School nurses must have a big expansion of knowledge which covers pediatric, public/mental health nursing, and school and law policies. Leadership and independent qualities help the work environment run smooth. They should have strong interpersonal skills and enjoy working with children, teens, family members, and administrators with diverse backgrounds.
Skills Link
Article Title: How to Become a School Nurse, Subtitle Requirements, Subtitle Necessary Skills and Qualities
Practice Settings: Where would you work
School nurses practice at a variety of different school settings, varying from public, private, vocational, alternative, and early childhood schools across the U.S. They spend most of their days in the school health offices. They occasionally go off campus for family meetings and to meet with other health care providers.
Practice Settings Link
Article Title: How to Become a School Nurse, Subtitle: Work Environment
Job Outlook or 3 Fun Facts
- According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses, including school nurses, is expected to grow 26% between 2010 and 2020.
- Many schools are eliminating school nurse positions due to budget concerns
- Federal accountability legislation has led many school districts to have resources go away from health programs
Job Outlook Link
Article Title: How to Become a School Nurse, Subtitle: Job Outlook
A day in the life of a School Nurse (youtube video)
School Nurse Video
Describes what school nurses do and how much they are appreciated.