Many health care facilities that employ registered nurses have a high staff turn-over rate due to the unpopularity of night shifts and mandatory overtime. But another possibility, working as a school nurse, allows registered nurses to work much more of a normal schedule. School nurses typically practice a regular work week and are usually employed according to the school calendar. Earning an RN to BSN degree can qualify registered nurses to take advantage of this unique career opportunity within the field of nursing.
What Does a School Nurse Do?
School nursing has far surpassed the days of distributing band-aids for scraped knees and Tylenol for headaches. Today school nurses cover anywhere from one to several schools. Graduates of RN to BSN programs who choose to specialize in school nursing are usually responsible for mandatory vision and hearing screenings as well as ensuring immunization compliance. However, they are also responsible for emergency care and sometimes even advanced medical care such as tracheostomy care and administration of tube feedings for medically fragile children who are being mainstreamed into schools.
Graduates of RN to BSN programs who choose to specialize in school nursing also practice a bit of public health. School nurses may be responsible for health education and promotion. Registered nurses with a campus or online nursing degree may also create programs and interventions for illness and injury prevention. Finally, the school nurse may serve as the contact person for the community on matters related to school health.
Required Education to Become a School Nurse
Nurses may legally practice with a hospital diploma, associate degree, or the RN to BSN degree which is also known as the bachelor of science in nursing degree. However, many states actually require school nurses to have at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a campus or online nursing program. Some states may also require certification as a school nurse. Information on certification can be found through the National Board for Certification of School Nurses.
Prospective students who are looking for an RN to BSN program may visit College-Pages.com, the education and career resource website, for an extensive list of available online nursing schools. Schools, such as the University of Phoenix, offer an RN to BSN online program designed specifically for working registered nurses. Other schools, such as Kaplan University, have designed an online registered nurse program that allows students to specialize in a specific area of nursing. Kaplan University offers online nursing certification in the following specializations: Case Management. Geriatric Care Management. Life Care Planning. Forensic Nursing. Legal Nurse Consulting.
Qualities Necessary for Success as a School Nurse
Graduates of RN to BSN programs who choose to specialize in school nursing may be required to have good time-management and multitasking skills as it is possible that more than one school may be assigned to their care. According to the Department of Labor, nurses also need to be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and detail-oriented. Registered nurses must be emotionally stable in order to deal with job stress, crises, emergencies, and human suffering. Internship and on-the-job training, while completing an online program RN to BSN curriculum, is necessary to gain the practical work experience required to practice as a school nurse.
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Westwood College is an institution of higher learning dedicated to providing quality, career-focused undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to launch, enhance, or change careers. The College offers broad access to education and serves a diverse, multicultural body of students in an environment that promotes pride, respect, and teamwork. The College's programs are designed to empower students to pursue their individual career goals.
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Our programs are current, in depth, and job oriented. A sound educational background, combined with "hands-on" experience, is required to meet the needs of an ever-changing and increasingly technical society.
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At ITT Tech we are committed to helping men and women develop the skills and knowledge to pursue many opportunities in fields involving technology, criminal justice, and business.
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Saint Leo University Online is a leading provider of accredited online education to working adults and is a major global provider of education to the military. The online programs are designed to meet the growing needs of adult students and offer the best attributes of traditional classroom education in conjunction with today's most innovative computer technology.
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Newbridge College provides high-quality, career specific training and an emphasis on practical skills required by today's employers.
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Once you decide to become part of the expanding, exciting, and in-demand world of healthcare, selecting the best college to meet your needs and goals is clearly one of your most important decisions. Medical Careers Institute, the School of Health Science of ECPI College of Technology, understands the aspirations of people who want to experience the rewards of caring and who want a direct route toward their career goal.
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Courses that you can take with you---the varied curriculums at HoHoKus Rets School of Business have been evaluated by the American Council on Education, allowing graduates to earn up to 55 college credits at more than 1500 colleges and universities across the nation.
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Find out why so many students in Florida and nationwide are choosing Southern Tech as their school of choice. Whether you need to upgrade your skills or change careers, we have the right program to fit your needs. Let us show you how to get the skills you need in a short amount of time so that you can get into your career today!
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Bellevue University, a leader in adult learning, is your best choice. We accept ALL of the credit in your associate's degree - that's EVERY credit in your A.A.S, A.S., A.G.S., and A.A. degree! And, Bellevue University gives you accelerated bachelor's degree completion 100% ONLINE. So, you enroll with your associate's degree, and complete your bachelor's degree in as little as 12 months.
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Tags: health care, kaplan university, registered nurse, school nurse
This entry was posted
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