You are passionate about education, health, and wellness. There are many ways to leverage your interests in a professional capacity, but one field provides a powerful opportunity to make a difference while also maintaining an appealing element of work-life balance: school nursing.
Tasked with implementing nursing theories in educational environments, school nurses enjoy the unique opportunity to work closely with students, parents, and educators. They perform assessments, conduct screenings, and provide care for many acute and chronic conditions. Perhaps most importantly, they help to educate and empower students.
This could be a deeply compelling role for aspiring nurses who enjoy working with children and adolescents, but it is certainly not ideal for everyone. To that end, it is important to understand what school nursing is and how hard is it to be a school nurse. We will answer these questions below and provide insight into how to be a school nurse — specifically, the education and credentials needed to secure school nursing opportunities.
Understanding the Role of a School Nurse
You have likely asked yourself during the course of your journey how to be a school nurse and how hard is it to be a school nurse? Before you embark on the challenging journey to become a school nurse, you should feel confident that this career path is right for you. Not just anybody can handle the unique complications of school nursing, but there is no denying that this path may be deeply rewarding to nurses who love interacting with students and enjoy being immersed in a school setting.
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) defines this role as the “specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement and health of students,” adding that school nurses “facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety…[and] intervene with actual and potential health problems.”
Key Responsibilities and Daily Tasks
No two days look exactly alike for school nurses, who assist students with a variety of health concerns and may collaborate with both school employees and clinical professionals. Common tasks and responsibilities include:
- Conducting screenings. School nurses may plan and implement school screening programs to ensure that all students with vision or hearing problems are identified and that timely referrals are made so that any detected concerns can be examined and addressed. Screening often involves a blend of visual acuity testing and depth perception evaluations, along with pure-tone audiometry and speech audiometry to evaluate hearing.
- Verifying immunization compliance. School nurses are often tasked with determining whether students meet strict immunization requirements, including either documentation of immunizations or valid exemptions, if relevant. If students are not up to date on immunizations, school nurses may need to send reminders or follow up with their families. They could also direct families toward immunization resources to ensure that they have access.
- Perform health assessments and provide basic care. If patients arrive at nurses’ offices complaining of painful or uncomfortable symptoms, school nurses could evaluate them to get a better sense of their illnesses or injuries. They may also provide first aid or emergency care when necessary or administer medications that have already been prescribed.
Impact of School Nurses on Student Health and Safety
Much of the appeal of school nursing stems from the ability to make a positive difference for students, both individually and on a wider scale. School nurses are often the first healthcare professionals to observe and follow up on emerging health concerns. Their early efforts could prevent seemingly minor health issues from sparking more severe or urgent problems. They also develop impactful education programs that introduce students to important concepts and practices, such as hand hygiene and school safety.
Preparing for a Career in School Nursing
If you feel drawn to school nursing, you will want to plan your education and career path accordingly. While there is a great deal of overlap between ‘conventional’ clinical nursing and school nursing, this specialty calls for a unique skill set that may not be as relevant in physician offices or hospitals. Keep these considerations in mind as you prepare for a bright future as a school nurse:
Essential Qualifications and Skills for Aspiring School Nurses
While some school nursing positions are available to licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), these positions are more commonly reserved for registered nurses (RNs) and, increasingly, for baccalaureate-trained RNs. Through ADN or BSN programs, you may develop important clinical skills such as performing assessments and providing basic or urgent care. These programs also equip aspiring school nurses with essential soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, and empathy. Evidence-based practice should be a priority, as school nurses need to draw on (and effectively integrate) a wealth of research into their everyday work.
Understanding the Educational Pathway
Before you enroll in a particular ADN, BSN, or RN to BSN program, take a close look at the curriculum to determine which concepts you will cover and which skills you will develop along the way. At the baccalaureate level, the ideal program will provide a strong emphasis on assessments, healthcare delivery, nursing management, and nursing research. Leadership skills should also be prioritized, along with interdisciplinary planning and self-reflection. Students should have plenty of opportunities to apply newly developed skills through practical experiences and cumulative projects.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a School Nurse
If, based on the details highlighted above, you feel confident that you want to work as a school nurse, you will keep this important goal at the forefront as you plan your education and seek your first job after graduation or licensure.
Follow these steps to streamline your path on how to be a school nurse, and to ensure that you are fully prepared for the many unique challenges and opportunities that school nursing will present.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN)
A bachelor’s degree is not an absolute necessity for becoming a registered nurse, but it is a commonly cited requirement and worth pursuing simply because it helps school nurses maintain a higher standard of care.
If you are already a registered nurse, you could benefit from enrolling in an RN to BSN program. This will provide a deep dive into evidence-based practice and help you integrate nursing theory into your future work as a school nurse.
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN Examination
Depending on your nursing journey, you may or may not have already passed the NCLEX prior to obtaining your BSN. The timelines for completing your education and passing the exam may vary, but the NCLEX is a non-negotiable if you want to work as a school nurse or as an RN in general.
Be prepared to dedicate a full month (or more) exclusively to studying for this rigorous exam. Thankfully, you will have acquired thorough preparation while completing your BSN, but self-study will be needed as well.
Be sure to examine NCLEX resources and materials, which could provide valuable insight into what will be covered on the exam and how you could tailor your study sessions accordingly.
Step 3: Obtain State Licensure as a Registered Nurse
Once you have passed the NCLEX, the next important step involves getting licensed as a registered nurse. This process may vary somewhat between states but typically involves providing verification of graduation from a relevant degree, plus details about NCLEX results. In some cases, criminal background checks will also be necessary. Applications can typically be found on state board of nursing websites.
Step 4: Gain Experience in a Clinical Setting
Many school nursing positions highlight workplace experience as a key requirement. The amount of experience preferred will vary from one job listing to the next, but often, RNs work in the field for at least one or two years prior to moving into a school setting. Pediatric experience may be cited as a hiring preference. So, if possible, you may want to seek clinical job opportunities that involve working with children.
Step 5: Acquire School Nursing Certification
School nurses often need to maintain certification above and beyond typical RN licensure. Certification needs largely depend on location-based requirements and may also be influenced by employer preferences. That said, generally, targeted certifications are worth pursuing simply because they make the school nursing job search a lot easier.
For many aspiring school nurses, the National Certification for School Nurses (NCSN) is a priority. Offering a rigorous certification process accredited by the Accreditation Board of Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) — and recognized by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) — the NCSN aims to advance student health and wellness by ensuring that school nurses are properly trained.
Specializations and Continuing Education in School Nursing
When it comes to how to be a school nurse, school nursing technically qualifies as a nursing specialization. Having said that, there are several ways to further specialize once you have entered this field. You may prefer to work with specific types of students, for example, or may wish to address specific health concerns on a case-by-case or community-wide basis. Specializations worth considering include:
- Special needs or developmental disability school nurse. Focused on caring for and supporting students with special needs, many school nurses are employed by special education schools, centers, and departments. Special needs-related certification opportunities are available through the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA).
- Mental health school nurse. With rates of depression and other mental health concerns skyrocketing among children and adolescents, there is a stronger need for these concerns to be addressed within the school environment. To that end, some school nurses specialize in mental health or even take on targeted roles such as mental health school specialist. These nurses could benefit from obtaining further certification such as the Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing credential from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- School public health nurse. Some school nurses draw on their expertise in public health nursing to provide community-based services. In this capacity, their work may involve health screenings, disease control, or efforts to address health disparities so that all students have access to quality care.
Advanced Certifications and Their Benefits
While many school nurses are trained at the baccalaureate level, additional degrees and credentials could help school nurses improve their quality of care. Some school nurses, for example, go on to obtain a master of science in nursing (MSN) in hopes of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner or other pediatric-centered advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Pediatric NPs enjoy a wider scope of practice, although school-based positions are rare at the NP level.
Importance of Continuing Education for School Nurses
Continuing education is crucial in all areas of nursing but is especially important for school nurses, who otherwise risk falling behind simply because they are not immersed in fast-paced clinical environments on a day-to-day basis. This could be secured by enrolling in bachelor’s or master’s programs or by seeking the certifications highlighted above.
States maintain different credit requirements for maintaining licensure, but there are many ways to earn continuing education units or otherwise pursue professional development: attending workshops, participating in online courses, or completing in-service training.
Challenges and Rewards of Being a School Nurse
School nursing looks considerably different from other types of registered nursing, and not simply due to the unique environment. Working with students may be rewarding, but this could present distinct ethical dilemmas above and beyond conventional clinical nursing.
These challenges and rewards should be thoroughly understood before seeking school nursing certifications or pursuing relevant job opportunities. Keep in mind that concerns some aspiring nurses refer to as challenges may be reframed as rewards or opportunities by others.
Navigating Common Challenges in School Nursing
So, how hard is it to be a school nurse? Challenges will vary greatly between schools and districts, with many obstacles relating to resource limitations. Some schools are just not sufficiently staffed, leaving school nurses struggling to keep up. Other common challenges include:
- Safeguarding student privacy. As in any nursing specialty, there is a strong need to preserve patient privacy. With school nurses, this involves a thorough understanding of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Secure recordkeeping is essential, and access to student health records must be strictly limited.
- Pressures from administration. While some school nurses enjoy collaborating with educational professionals, many find this difficult at times. Often, school nurses and administrators hold different priorities or struggle with communication barriers.
Rewarding Aspects of Working as a School Nurse
The challenges described above may give some nurses or aspiring nurses pause, but these are offset by some truly compelling advantages:
- Empowering students. School nurses have the unique opportunity to interact with students on a personal basis. They help students understand how their decisions impact their own physical and mental health and how they could make choices that promote better health and well-being. Along the way, nurses develop strong rapport and take great satisfaction in seeing students learn and grow over time.
- Promoting equity. Often, students who have limited access to healthcare have a greater reliance on school-based services. These may not fully bridge the gap but could be helpful in addressing health disparities.
- School-based scheduling. From a practical perspective, school nursing may be appealing to RNs who hope to avoid standard shift work. Most school nurses get weekends and evenings off and may also get extended time off during the summer or other breaks.
- Increased autonomy. Many school nurses enjoy considerable autonomy, especially as compared to other types of registered nurses.
Find Your Future in School Nursing With Post University
If you are already an RN practicing as a school nurse and wish to expand your knowledge, Post University offers comprehensive preparation to help you achieve your goals. Our RN to BSN program provides valuable learning opportunities to deepen your expertise in the field. Reach out today to learn more about how we can support your journey in this rewarding career.
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