School nurses play a vital role in supporting overall student wellness. They provide services that impact not only students’ physical health, but also their academic success and personal mental and emotional needs.
Typically, school nurses provide care and health education to the entire student population of a school or district, but many school systems have a rising need for one-on-one student care. This typically looks like individual nursing support for a medically complex student to directly manage care needs during school hours.
Read on to learn more about the general role of school nurses, the benefits of specializing in one-on-one care, and what one-on-one nursing positions require and involve.
General Responsibilities of School Nurses
School nurses are key team members in supporting student health and school wellness. While they’re often thought of as support for a student feeling sick or managing minor injuries, they have a wide variety of other day-to-day responsibilities that they oversee, including:
- Providing direct care for long-term health needs
- Leading schoolwide health initiatives and practices
- Performing screenings for health conditions
- Promoting an overall healthy school environment
- Collaborating with families and school professionals for optimal student health outcomes
These typical responsibilities translate directly to one-on-one nursing for medically complex students. A school nurse in this position would have responsibilities focused on an individual student’s care rather than the general student population of the school.
Managing a Medically Complex Student as a Nurse
Medically complex students can have unique needs during school hours, which a designated school nurse personally manages. One-on-one nursing is sometimes assumed to require additional training or specialized experience. However, many nurses are already qualified for these types of positions based on their current training or experience.
Here are some commonly asked questions about personal nursing for medically complex students:
What ages do one-on-one nurses work with?
Specialized school nurses can work with any elementary, middle school, or high school student who has medically complex needs or conditions that warrant personal care.
What is the typical timeframe for this type of position?
Most one-on-one school nurses work with contracts that run through the current school year based on the student’s needs.
How is an individual student’s care protocol established?
School nurses follow individual medical care plans and IEP/504 plans that have been established for the student. The nurse will be an active part of the student’s care team for any reevaluations or updates to care or treatment plans. As a trusted provider with significant individual experience with the student, a one-on-one nurse is a valuable advocate and resource in a student’s care team.
What are the additional job responsibilities of a personal school nurse?
Many of the job responsibilities in personal nursing will look similar to those of a regular school nurse, but will be more personalized to each student. That includes daily documentation of any medications administered, medical events, treatment notes, etc. Other responsibilities could involve field trip accompaniment, bus runs, administering medication, helping with academic involvement, and other basic needs specific to that student’s medical conditions. School nurses also keep medical records, families, and other professionals up to date on their individual student’s medical conditions.
What type of medically complex conditions need one-on-one care?
Any student who needs one-on-one care to be academically successful and achieve overall personal wellness in a school setting would warrant the care of an individual nurse. Some of the conditions that would be included in that type of situation could include behavioral care, diabetes, seizures, severe allergies, asthma, tracheostomy care, ventilator management, and G-tube feedings.
How to Become a School Nurse for a Medically Complex Student
Specialized school nurses are in consistently high demand across the country. That demand is expected to continue to grow based on an increase in school-based programs, a stronger focus on preventive care, and a higher prioritization of student health. Each of these growing initiatives requires proactive and competent school nurses to back those efforts successfully.
The path to becoming a school nurse involves completing a nursing degree, earning a license, and gaining experience:
- Earn a nursing degree as an LPN/LVN, registered nurse (RN), or BSN
- Pass any related nursing licensure exams and credentialing
- Gain relevant clinical experience in pediatrics or a related specialty
- Optional: Becoming a certified school nurse
A certification that is often not required but would set nurses apart as well-qualified job candidates is the National School Nurse Certification (NSNC) from the National Board for Certified School Nurses. This certification requires an active RN license, a BSN or MSN in nursing, at least 1,000 hours of clinical experience (within the last three years), and passing the certification exam. The certification has additional requirements upon renewal — an active RN license, another passing score on the certification exam, required fees submitted, and 2,000 hours of clinical practice in a school nurse position.
Finding a One-on-One School Nursing Job with SHC
Supplemental Health Care understands that school nurses have student needs at the forefront of their minds. That’s why we focus on offering support services that help nurses find the right schools for their careers so they can focus on providing student care.
If a specialized school nursing position might be the right step in your career, or if you’re ready to start working in schools, contact us today to learn more!
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