School Nurse Salary

Being one of the oldest professions associated with the education system, school nurses have played an important role in providing medical care in an academic setting since 1902. Sick leaves and students being infected with communicable diseases were some of the reasons behind absenteeism in preschools, middle school and high schools. To counter this medical threat to a school's curriculum, the idea of having a school nurse on campus was introduced and since then, a school nurse has been an integral part of the American education system. The role of a school nurse has evolved since its start, today a school nurse job description ranges from counseling, sex education, personalized health programs and first aid. The school nurse salary is on the rise and the job outlook for the future also looks bright with substantial growth projections.

School Nurse Educational Qualifications

Providing primary medical help to kids can be a challenging prospect and anyone who wants to get into a school nurse profession needs to have patience and good communication skills. Many think that this is one of the easiest medical jobs available, but in reality, it is not as easy as it looks. A school nurse has to have enough knowledge of pediatric problems, allergies, vaccinations and counseling to be successful and command a good school nurse salary. Most school nurses are Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), to apply for a LPN course you need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. The course lasts for a year and is offered by nursing schools, vocational training schools or community colleges. Upon successful completion of the program which gives classroom and practical training in medical care, first aid, pediatrics, orthopedics, anatomy and pharmacology, a student needs to give an examination to obtain a license of a LPN. This examination is known as The National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-PN, which is conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Registered Nurses (RN) can also get into the school nurse profession and to become a RN you need to have a bachelor's of science degree or an associate degree in nursing. The students are also required to give an examination known as the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN to practice as licensed registered nurse.

School Nurse Salary Information

The school nurse job description involves taking height, weight and vital signs like blood pressure and pulse rate measurements. The nurse duties require them to partake in immunization programs along with sex education for children and good parenting habit lectures that revolve around hygiene and medical care. The nurse salary is quite comparable and the average salary for nurses is USD 43,000. To some this might not sound much, but couple it with summer holidays and other vacations, it is a good number. In some cities like Philadelphia, a school nurse salary can be USD 62,000. Recent data have shown that nearly 75% of school nurse average salary is above USD 55,000 in some metropolitan areas. Experience is a big factor when it comes to salaries and more so in the case of a school nurse, some with an experience of 4-9 years can earn as much as USD 75,000. This also depends on the size of the school in terms of student capacity and financial strength. To go along with a good salary, a school nurse also enjoys health benefits and short/long-term disability benefits and nearly 50% of school nurses get dental benefits.

So if you have chosen this profession, are there any ways to allow you to up your school nurse salary, and reach the $63k mark or above that? One way would be to stop putting in extra hours just to get paid extra, rather do a bit of research, look for the places providing a high salary, and see if you can move to a place where you can get paid better as a school nurse. To name a few, New York, New Jersey, Alaska, etc., are some possible options to consider. Another tip would be to try your luck at private schools in your state or even abroad, for that matter, to obtain a salary that will appeal to you. There are several opportunities for school nurses, it is only up to an individual to cover all the leads and opt for best alternative.

If you have an inclination to help and work with children, the school nurse salary is quite worthy of comparison and the other benefits that you get, like holidays, make it worthwhile. Making a wise decision of choosing the right school will bear fruit in the long run.