School nurses work with pupils, teachers and parents to promote good health and well-being in children at school.

Their duties include:

• raising awareness on health issues such as smoking, drug abuse and safe sex
• contributing to social education and citizenship classes
• supporting children with medical needs such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy or mental health problems.

School nurses are likely to work with teachers to help them understand the health care needs of individual children.

An important part of their work is running immunisation and vaccination programmes.

Hours and Environment

School nurses employed by NHS trusts can work full- or part-time, but most work part-time and term-time only. This means many nurses work between 38 and 42 weeks a year.

School nurses can work for a single school or cover a number of schools. In the latter case they would probably be based at a GP practice or health centre. A driving licence is essential.

In private boarding schools they could be on 24-hour call to cover emergencies and so would be required to live at the school.

Skills and Interests

To work as a school nurse you should:

• be able to relate well to people of all ages from all backgrounds
• enjoy working with children
• have good communication skills
• be mature and responsible, but also have a sense of humour
• be tactful and patient and able to stay calm in an emergency
• be able to work and make decisions by yourself and as part of your team
• be able to talk confidently about sensitive issues
• be able to win the confidence of children and encourage them to talk about their problems
• be emotionally strong to deal with difficult issues.

Entry

School nurses are qualified and experienced registered nurses. It is possible to enter school nursing from any of the four main nursing branches: adult, child, mental health or learning disabilities.

Two years' practise as a qualified nurse is usually required before specialising in school nursing.

To qualify as a registered nurse you need to complete a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved degree or Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing. The NMC require all qualified nurses in the UK to join their register.

To gain entry onto an approved course you need to satisfy some general requirements. These include:

• providing evidence of your literacy and numeracy, good health and good character and recent successful study experience
• meeting the minimum age requirement for nurse training - 17.5 years old in England, 17 in Scotland, and 18 in Northern Ireland and Wales
• agreeing to undergo a criminal records bureau check; however, a criminal conviction does not automatically exclude you from working in the NHS.

Institutions offering approved nursing courses are entitled to set their own specific educational entry requirements.

The academic entry requirements for a Nursing Diploma are likely to include five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) preferably in English, maths and/or a science-based subject. In England applications for the diploma are made through NMAS; for all other regions check the contacts listed in Further Information.

The academic entry requirements for a Nursing Degree will usually include the same GCSE/S grades and subjects as the diploma plus two or three A levels/H grades, possibly including a biological science. Applications for the degree are made through UCAS; see Further Information.

Alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education, may also be accepted for entry onto diploma or degree programmes. Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

An accelerated two year postgraduate pre-registration nursing course may be an option if you are a graduate with a degree in a health-related subject. Check with individual institutions for entry details; applications are made through NMAS.

For more information on alternative routes into nursing or midwifery, please check the relevant job profiles.

Training

As a qualified and registered nurse with at least two years' experience, you may be able to begin working as a school nurse without further training or qualifications.

However, many school nurses will undertake relevant training specific to this field such as a (shortened) degree or postgraduate course for specialist community public health nursing, specialising in school nursing. Courses take one year full-time or two years part-time, and are available at universities and colleges throughout the UK.

Experience of working with children, working in the community or contributing to the development of a health promotion clinic would be particularly useful. Knowledge of child protection and an understanding of the health issues facing school children would also be beneficial.

As a qualified nurse you need to renew your professional registration with the NMC every three years. In order to re-register you must complete a minimum of five days (35 hours) relevant learning within the previous three year period. This can be anything that has helped you maintain or develop your role within nursing. Check the NMC website for information on additional criteria and advice.

Former registered nurses wishing to return to the profession can take a return-to-practice course, available throughout the UK, consisting of a mixture of theory and practice. Contact NHS Careers for more details; see Further Information.

Opportunities

There are currently around 2,500 school nurses employed by NHS trusts throughout the UK. School nurses are also employed in the private sector, working in independent boarding schools and day schools.

There are few opportunities for promotion in school nursing, although it is possible to move to a larger school or another NHS trust for a position offering more responsibility and experience. Another option is to move to another branch of nursing or become a health visitor. See relevant job profiles.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Newly qualified nurses working in the NHS earn between £19,200 and £24,800 a year.
Nurse specialists can earn up to around £31,000.
A small number of nurse consultants earn between £35,000 and £61,000.

Extra allowances may be paid to those living in or around London.

Further information

Tel: 08000 150 850
Email: learning@nhscareers.nhs.uk Innovation House
Bridgend Road
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Cheltenham
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Tel: 0870 112 2206 for general enquiries
Tel: 0870 112 2200 for application packs 23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7637 7181
Registration contacts
Overseas: 020 7333 6600
General: 020 7333 9333 School of Nursing and Midwifery
Medical Biology Centre
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Belfast
BT9 7BL
Tel: 028 9097 2233 Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 1122 211 School of Nursing
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Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
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Tel: 08700 400 700 PO Box 376
Bristol
BS99 3EY
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Edinburgh
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33-37 Moreland Street London EC1V 8HA Tel: 020 7503 3000