School Nurse
What is the work like?
School nurses work with pupils, teachers and parents to promote good health and wellbeing in school age children.
As a school nurse, your duties could include:
- raising awareness of issues that can have a negative effect on student health (such as smoking and drug abuse)
- promoting healthy living, including safe-sex education
- administering immunisations and vaccinations
- carrying out developmental screening
- contributing to social education and citizenship classes
- supporting children with medical needs such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy or mental health problems.
You may also be involved in training teachers on the health care needs of individual children.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You will usually need around two years' professional experience as a qualified nurse (any branch) before you can begin training or working as a school nurse. Check the training section below for information on specialist courses.
To qualify as a nurse you need a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved degree or Diploma of Higher Education. To get on to a course, you will usually need:
- nursing diploma – five GCSEs (A-C) preferably in English, maths and/or a science-based subject
- nursing degree – the same GCSE grades as the diploma, plus two or three A levels, possibly including a biological science
- a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check
- to show evidence of your ‘good health and good character’.
Check with course providers (listed on the UCAS website) for exact entry details because alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may also be accepted. See relevant nursing job profiles for details.
Experience of working with children in the community or contributing to the development of a health promotion clinic may give you an advantage when looking for work or applying for a course. Knowledge of child protection and an understanding of family planning issues and the health needs of school children would also be helpful.
You are likely to need a driving licence for this job.
What further training and development can I do?
You could start work as a school nurse without further training or qualifications, especially if you have relevant experience. However, some employers will prefer you to have completed a (shortened) degree or postgraduate course leading to registration as a specialist Community Public Health Nurse (specialising in school nursing).
Courses are available on a one-year full-time or two-year part-time basis. You could fund yourself or you may be able to find a vacancy, for example on the NHS Jobs website, that includes working under supervision and studying for the specialist qualification.
You could check the NMC website or contact your local universities for details of course providers.
As a qualified nurse you need to renew your registration with the NMC every three years. To re-register you must:
- have worked a minimum of 450 hours
- show that you are developing your knowledge and competence and keeping up to date in your practice.
You also need to complete a minimum of 35 hours' professional study every three years, and keep records of your professional development. Check with the NMC for details.
If you have had a break from working as a nurse and your registration has lapsed you will need to take a return-to-practice course. Courses are available throughout the UK and include a mixture of theory and clinical placements. Contact your local NHS Trust for details.
See the NMC website for full details of re-registration.
Where can I go for more information?
33-37 Moreland StreetLondon
EC1V 8HA
Tel: 020 7505 3000
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7637 7181
Registration contacts
Overseas: 020 7333 6600
General: 020 7333 9333
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
BT37 0QB
Tel: 08700 400 700
Medical Biology Centre
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7BL
Tel: 028 9097 2233
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries for nurses can be between £20,200 and £26,100 a year.
- Nurse specialists, such as school nurses, can earn around £32,600.
- With experience and managerial responsibilities, this can rise to around £38,300.
Extra allowances may be paid to those living in or around London.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Part-time and term-time only hours are common and you would typically work between 38 and 42 weeks a year.
You could work for a single school or cover a number of schools. If your role involves visiting a range of schools, you will probably be based at a GP practice or health centre.
You could also work in a private boarding school, which may involve living on school premises and being on 24-hour call (in case of emergency).
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent communication skills
- self awareness and emotional stability
- the ability to win the trust of children and encourage them to talk about their problems
- the ability to relate well to people of all ages and backgrounds
- a responsible attitude to work
- a non-judgemental approach
- knowledge of the health needs of children and teenagers
- the ability to explore sensitive issues
- tact and patience
- the ability to stay calm in an emergency
- good team working skills and the ability to work alone.
What opportunities are there?
There are around 2,500 school nurses in the UK working in Primary Care Trusts, local health authorities and community trusts. You could also work in the private sector with independent boarding schools and day schools. You are likely to find most opportunities for promotion with larger schools.
With experience as a school nurse, you could become a team manager or community matron, or move into health visiting. Check the job profiles for details.
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