School Nurse Job Requirements

The role of the school nurse has grown far beyond basic care. According to the American Federation of Teachers, more than half of US school nurses visit 3 or more schools a week to screen, assess, treat and teach schoolchildren of all ages.

School nurses serve children of all ages.

Background

School nurses are registered nurses, preferably with a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) and at least 1 year of experience in a specialty such as pediatrics or public health.

Settings

To serve elementary or high school students, a nurse needs to hone her knowledge of those age groups. A nurse who chooses special education needs to be competent in caring for children with disabilities.

Responsibilities

A school nurse hired to manage urgent situations must be able to provide those services autonomously. A nurse responsible for preventive health education for a school district, on the other hand, needs a solid base of learning theory.

Considerations

Because a school nurse serves as an integral part of the education team, he or she needs good interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate well with others.

Salary

According to Salary.com, the median salary for a school nurse in the US is $43,296. This figure can vary depending on geographical location, education, experience and role.

References

• All Education Schools
• Mississippi Office of Healthy Schools
• Salary.com

Resources

• National Association of School Nurses