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Becoming a School Nurse

School nurses are pleasant, nurturing professionals stationed in our schools to calm coughs, fix fevers and, when all else fails, provide the highly coveted early dismissals from school. If you have recently contemplated joining the American school nurse force, currently over 47,000 strong, here are some facts to aid in your pursuit.

The Job Description of a School-Based Nurse

According to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), "school nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well being, academic success and life-long achievement of students."

What teachers do for students' academic achievement, school nurses do for their health. This goal is realized through several tenets, which include, but are not limited to:

health education, educating the school community about various health topics
healthy environment, recognizing environmental health and safety concerns and promoting a nurturing social environment
health services, coordinating health services programs and providing health care
mental health, providing health counseling, assessing mental health needs and referring students to community agencies, as needed
nutrition, encouraging healthy food options
parent/community involvement, promoting community involvement in creating a healthy school environment and serving as school liaison to a health advisory committee
physical activity, promoting healthy physical education, sports policies and practices
staff wellness, promoting healthy activities and a healthy environment for school staff.

Looking for a school that focuses on this subject?

Here is a list of institutions and the number of programs they offer.

Walden University Online (10)

University of Phoenix (8)

Independence University (6)

Kaplan University Online (5)

Grand Canyon University (4)

University of Cincinnati (2)

Stevens-Henager College Online (2)

Loyola University (2)

South University (2)

A.T. Still University (2)

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Western Governors University

Benedictine University Online

Jacksonville University

University of Saint Mary

Kent State University

Norwich University

Saint Xavier University

Vanderbilt University

National American University Online

School Nurse Certification and Education

The NASN recommends a minimum of a bachelor’s degree for individuals hoping to enter the school nursing profession. Due to the variety of educators seeking the services of school nurses, necessary education and qualifications will vary from employer to employer. For example, while some school nurses may be licensed practical nurses, others may hold a Ph.D.

According to the National Association of School Nurses, its national certification program is voluntary and seeks to encourage a uniform standard for nurses working in schools. However, since school nurses are governed by school districts on state and local levels, the requirements for entrance into the profession vary widely.

What is standard is the knowledge and expertise needed. School nurses should have experience and knowledge in pediatric, public and mental health. They also should keep abreast of laws and news in both health care and education, especially with topics that directly affect the school or the students.

School Nurse Salary and Work Environment

When entering the school nurse profession, expect to find job postings at various places, including the local education agency's boards of education, the local department of health, hospitals/hospital districts and at private schools.

School nurses work in many different types of schools, including: