Choosing to work in the health care profession is richly rewarding in any specialized field. With so many branches to decide upon, the options can be limitless. For those dedicated individuals who love children, choosing to become a school nurse is more than a career. Many consider this to be a way of life.

School nursing allows for the flexibility of predictable working hours. The individual will be assigned to treat children in public and or private schools, or possibly throughout a school district. It takes dedication and commitment to become a nurse in any field, however making the decision to treat children specifically in schools has its own prerequisites - and unique benefits.

The school nurse will be influential at directly reinforcing the well-being of students in emotional and physical advancement. He or she must have patience and tolerance as well as a general love and understanding of young children and teenagers. This typically allows for a special relationship with the students, who will look upon the school health care provider as a dependable source in special times of need. That in itself can be the driving force to motivate one to become a leader in this field.

Some of the duties which will be required of school nurses are as follows:

The individual will be required to procure health records, regarding immunizations and other special health factors pertaining to the individual student. Also to oversee every necessary requirement is up to date.

In pre-existing medical conditions and illnesses affecting students, being able to assist and dispense knowledge by offering advice as indicated, is essential.

In this chosen field, one must possess the ability to interact with people of all ages. It will go above and beyond the direct contact with students, but also with school board members, as well as parents and the general public.The school nurse will become a direct advocate for safety issues, promoting programs the school - and its students - will benefit from.

This practice can be personally fulfilling in so many ways for the individual who makes this commitment. As an alternative to becoming a pediatric nurse, working in schools allows more freedom and flexible scheduling and is generally less demanding. With so many possibilities for enriching the lives of children, this could be the ideal situation in many aspects.

The Board of Education, Department of Health, or even local hospitals might assist in hiring individuals for this career. There are many informative books on school nursing which are available at local libraries.