Is a Career as a School Nurse for You?
Nursing is an inherently noble profession. Every day is spent solely in the service of people in need no matter who they are where they are from. The job is not always the most glamorous but offers some of the most heart-warming rewards and is backed by an army of other nurses who always club together when things stand against them.
One of the least well known areas of nursing however is that of the school nurse. It is possible to take up a school nurse role directly after initial registration, whereupon you would be employed by a local authority to provide service to a number of schools in the area, primary care or community trust, or even by a school directly.
What Does the Role Involve?
While some people may be convinced that the only job a school nurse really has to do is to take care of immunisations and jabs when they come up, there is a great deal more to it. In fact a recent survey of UK school children by the BYC (British Youth Council) revealed that they would like better access to their school nurse. The survey was commission by the Department of Health as it is currently looking into developing the school-nursing workforce.
Currently school nurses will typically be expected to:
- Provide health and sexual education
- Administer immunisations
- Be available for interviews with pupils who have questions
However the role is so much more than that and it will be in the government’s plan to overhaul the impression people (and especially pupils) have of the role. It will be made clear that school nurses are to become a more familiar face to all students and also to highlight the fact they are available for:
- Emotional support
- Drugs advice
- Contraception and STI advice
- Help to quit smoking
- Advice via text message or email as well as in person
The BYC survey also revealed that pupils believe school nurses should be able to promote their services through assemblies, class presentations and through individual introductory sessions.
So what’s the Best way to become a School Nurse?
After initially registering as a nurse, you can immediately apply to be a school nurse through one of the channels mentioned above. It would be beneficial though to have shadowed a school nurse beforehand. You can also study for a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse qualification with a focus on the school side of things. Also some experience working directly with children would be of great benefit in the fields of child protection, family planning etc.
The future is bright in the developing role of school nurse so it could be just what you’ve been looking for?
Jefferson Pim is a nursery nurse jobs expert. He feels people who have done support worker jobs are ideal candidates for new school or nursery nurse jobs.
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