School nurses
play an integral role in any school setting, ensuring that its students are sound of both body and mind. Some school nurses act in a purely medical capacity, administering prescription drugs and performing routine checkups, while others are called upon to give lectures on nutrition and preventive health care. The compensation is favorable, particularly for those in a teachers union and at the top of their field.
Job Description
School nurses are responsible for providing as-needed emergency or nonemergency health care to students in an elementary or high school setting. Their duties include maintaining the immunization records of each student; administering regular vision, hearing and dental screenings; treating minor health problems; and administering prescribed medications to students on a daily basis. Some school nurses are also held accountable for planning health fairs and lectures and teaching classes on health and nutrition. In the case of students with particular medical needs, school nurses must design and implement individualized health care procedures.
Education/Training
Specific education requirements for school nurses vary according to state, though each one requires that they hold a registered nursing license at the very least. The majority of states require a bachelor’s degree, and some require a master’s. Some school nurses elect to pursue a master’s degree in education, public health or counseling to make for a more well-rounded education. Another option is an associate’s degree or certification program, which generally requires two years to complete and includes a school nurse internship.
Work Environment
School nurses are often privy to a private office setting that allows them to observe and treat students--said office will often include a desk, place to store medical supplies and/or prescription medications, and a medical table/couch. According to a report by the American Federation of Teachers, about half of the 45,000 school nurses employed in the U.S. are responsible for three or more different schools. Thus, these nurses might work a prescribed number of hours at each assigned school per day or per week, seeing about 12 or more students on any given day. School nurses are sometimes also asked to attend school conferences or meetings and make home visits when the situation calls for it.
Average Pay
In April 2009, the average salary of a school nurse in the United States was $43,296, though this number varies according to experience, location, education and district. The middle 50 percent of U.S. school nurses earn in the vicinity of $34,596 to $54,663, with the top 90 percent bringing home upward of $64,206. In districts where school nurses are members of a teachers union, they tend to earn salaries on par with teachers, while also receiving the same health insurance and retirement benefits.
Job Outlook
Employment opportunities for registered nurses, including school nurses, are projected to grow at 23 percent--much faster than average for all occupations--over the course of the ensuing decade. This will be largely a result of a growing need to replace retiring professionals and the fact that health issues, such as obesity and diabetes, are on the rise in students.
