School Nurse Job Requirements: Skills, Education & Responsibilities

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.