How to Become a School Nurse
A school nurse is a healthcare professional who works in schools, providing medical assistance, health education, and emotional support. Their days are packed with tasks like giving medications, treating minor injuries, and counseling students on various health topics. Whether they’re patching up scraped knees or teaching handwashing, school nurses play an important role in student well-being.
Wondering how to become a school nurse? This article has all the information you need. We’ll discuss the educational requirements, certification process, the perks and challenges of the job, typical salary ranges, and the essential skills necessary to excel in this rewarding role.
School Nurse: Career Snapshot
- Mission: Keep students healthy and thriving throughout their educational journey.
- Responsibilities: Provide a range of community health services from first aid to health education, tailored to students’ needs.
- Workplaces: Schools, colleges, and daycare centers
- Demand: Higher than average for all occupations.
- Path: Nursing degree followed by optional certification.
- Perks: Meaningful impact and ability to enjoy school holidays and summers off.
- Cons: Limited room for career advancement compared to other nursing fields.
What Is a School Nurse and What Does a School Nurse Do?
While providing direct healthcare services to students is a big part of their job, school nurses also engage in community health efforts, assisting students with complex medical needs, and educating families on various health topics. They advocate for students’ physical, mental, and social needs, connecting them with additional resources as needed. Ultimately, school nurses strive to create a safe and supportive environment for students to thrive academically and personally.
As you can see, school nurses wear many hats, blending medical knowledge with dedication to care for the community’s health and well-being. Examples of school nurse duties include:
- Managing students’ chronic illnesses.
- Providing first aid.
- Conducting height/weight/hearing/vision screenings.
- Educating parents and faculty about pertinent information when necessary.
- Arranging medical and dental exams for students.
- Ensuring student charts are up to date.
- Ensuring vaccines are up to date.
- Addressing public health crises affecting students.
Where Can a School Nurse Work?
When considering how to become a school nurse, it’s important to decide whether these work environments are a good fit for you. Examples of school nurse work environments include:
- Summer camps
- Primary and secondary schools
- Charter schools
- Vocational schools
- Colleges and universities
- Military bases
- Juvenile detention centers
- Daycares
Educational Requirements for School Nurses
Attaining adequate education is one of the first steps on the path of how to become a school nurse. Let’s explore the key steps to start your journey into this meaningful nursing specialty:
1. Earn a Nursing Degree
The fastest way to become a nurse is to earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN). For a more in-depth education, you can also choose to pursue a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degree.
If you don’t want to become a registered nurse (RN), you may be wondering, Can an LPN be a school nurse? Although requirements vary by state and school district, in some cases, licensed practical nurses can work in schools under the supervision of other healthcare professionals.
2. Obtain Licensure
The path to becoming a licensed RN involves passing the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) and submitting all required paperwork to your state’s board of nursing. Note that school nurse requirements by state differ, so be sure to investigate what is needed in your location.
3. Gain Experience
Build your skills with practical experience in relevant specialties, such as pediatric nursing, medical-surgical, home care, and community health. This background forms a solid base for moving into the school nursing specialty.
4. Attain School Nurse Certification
Have you considered getting certified as part of your journey on how to become a school nurse? You can choose to pursue a Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN) credential. This certification is offered by the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN) and ensures that you meet high standards of competency.
5. Advance Further With Continuing Education
Want to become a top candidate on the job market? Advance your practice by attending conferences, joining professional organizations, and taking continuing education courses.
6. Pursue Advanced Education
Go the extra mile with advanced education, like a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree, or become a school nurse practitioner. Although this step isn’t required to enter this field, it can be a great way to take your career to new heights.
How Long Does It Take to Become a School Nurse?
It takes two to six years to become a school nurse, depending on the route you choose for nursing school. Schools may prefer nurses with prior nursing experience because student needs can be unpredictable.
School Nurse Skills
To excel as a school nurse, you need a mix of soft skills and clinical know-how. Clinical skills like wound care are crucial, along with qualities like empathy. This balance lets nurses offer professional care while building trust and support in the school community. Other essential skills for nurses in this specialty include:
- Patience: School nurses deal with students of all ages and backgrounds, each with varying levels of health knowledge. Patience is key as they explain health information, teach hygiene, and address any worries about medical procedures.
- Quick thinking: Nurses’ offices are similar to walk-in clinics. These nurses never know what kinds of issues they’ll have to address — and with little notice — and have limited resources in comparison to facilities dedicated to healthcare.
- Clear communication: These nurses must be able to explain health information to children and adults who are not trained in the health sciences and know how to translate this information in a way that considers how the student’s education might be affected.
Pros and Cons of Becoming a School Nurse
Like other specialties, school nursing has its own unique benefits and disadvantages that are necessary to consider when learning about how to become a school nurse:
Pros:
- Consistent schedule with holidays off and summer vacation
- Lasting relationships with students and families
- Mixture of sitting and standing instead of being on your feet all day
Cons:
- Reputed to have a lower salary than many other nursing specialties
- Can be monotonous
- Limited career advancement opportunities compared to other nursing specialties
How Much Does a School Nurse Make
The average school nurse salary is $55,710 per year. Your earnings can vary based on factors like your education, certifications, experience, and the geographic location of your workplace.
If you are open to relocation, consider submitting your school nurse resume to one of these top-paying states for RNs:
Looking to Make a Difference?
Knowing how to become a school nurse allows you to provide support to students and their families. Want to know other ways you can serve patients? Find out how IntelyCare can match you with nursing jobs that match your skills and interests.