Debunking the school nurse myth

Scrubs: What advice do you have for new nurses—in schools or in pediatrics?

Ellen: The advice I have for new nurses in general is to respect our profession, respect your colleagues and continually work to raise the public’s level of awareness about nursing. Continue to educate yourself as learning is an ongoing, lifelong event. In the medical world, there is one certainty—and that is the more you learn, the more you realize what you don’t know, so staying current and in touch is essential. The medical field is continually evolving, and it’s our duty and obligation to remain current. Nursing is a unique profession in the sense that you can remain in the same profession and change positions as often as you choose to without leaving your field, which is just another wonderful benefit of being a nurse.

If nursing draws you to Pediatrics or School Nursing, I strongly recommend that you have a good Medical-Surgical background in adult nursing first. Building a foundation is necessary in order to be able to move forward into specialties. I don’t recommend School Nursing for new graduates without any experience. As a school nurse, you work autonomously and must rely heavily on your knowledge, skills and experience to be able to provide a safe and healthy environment for both students and staff.

Find out what Ellen has to say about motivating children to exercise.