The educational system is one of the most important factors in society. To ensure that students have the opportunity to reach their full potential, it’s essential to support them with quality programs and services, such as school-based healthcare. If you are interested in contributing to the well-being of students and exploring a career in school-based healthcare, this guide is for you.
We will provide an overview of what school-based healthcare involves, highlight the qualifications required for these jobs, and discuss why pursuing a career in school base healthcare jobs from giftedhealthcare could be beneficial for you. By accompanying this guide with your own research, you will be able to determine which job fits you best.
Table of Contents
1. Overview of School-Based Healthcare Jobs
School-based healthcare jobs provide a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals to take their field of study and apply it on an individual level in the most important learning environment –the school. These positions allow healthcare professionals to offer a variety of preventative, acute, chronic, and managing services nationwide. Working in school-based healthcare positions also allows professionals to work with educators, families, and children directly struggling with educational inequalities, health disparities, mental health issues, and other forms of social injustice that can impede their academic progress when not properly addressed. Consequently, these job roles are incredibly rewarding as well as challenging. In addition to offering comprehensive medical care services, some positions may be newly created medical assisting roles that improve the quality of access to healthcare while reducing cost burdens on the district budget.
2. Types of School-Based Healthcare Jobs
Physician
Physicians specializing in pediatrics or family medicine often hold school-based healthcare positions. These doctors evaluate, diagnose and treat illnesses in children on a regular basis. In most cases, they develop care plans tailored to the individual needs of each student.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners working in schools provide primary care for illnesses or injuries among students and staff members. They focus on medical diagnosis and treatment while also educating patients about their bodies and healthy living practices.
Social Worker
School social workers serve as advocates for the student body by assisting with any behavioral issues or special needs that arise in the classroom or within the school system at large. They provide counseling services, facilitate referrals to outside resources, such as mental health professionals or case managers, and teach classes on conflict resolution and crisis intervention.
School Psychologist
The primary role of a school psychologist is to assess any emotional, behavioral, learning disabilities or psychological issues among students that they may be dealing with. Through comprehensive evaluations, they try to better understand why certain behaviors are occurring so that appropriate interventions can be devised for them. School psychologists work closely with teachers and parents to create positive learning environments which help promote academic success for all students.
School Nurse
The main duty of a school nurse is to provide direct health care services for students who may have difficulty accessing resources from outside sources due to poverty or transportation constraints. But beyond basic first aid duties such as changing bandages or administering insulin injections, school nurses also teach classes about good hygiene practices, nutrition education, substance abuse prevention, and physical activity promotion.
3. Qualifications for School-Based Healthcare Jobs
Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT)
The first step to becoming a successful school-based healthcare provider is obtaining your Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), or Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT) license from your state’s Board of Nursing. The requirements for each license may vary slightly from state to state, but typically include completing an approved nursing education program, passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and providing evidence of continuing professional education credits.
CPR/First Aid Certification
Most employers require at least basic CPR/First Aid certification for school-based healthcare workers. You can either obtain the certification through an online course or by attending an in-person class led by your local Red Cross or another organization offering training services.
CYP Core Competency Certificate Program
The Child and Youth Protection Core Competency Certificate Program is designed specifically for healthcare professionals working in schools. This 12-credit certificate program provides instruction on topics such as critical thinking, communication skills, cultural competency, patient safety, and legal issues related to working in educational settings with young clients. The completion of this certificate is beneficial when seeking employment in many school districts as it demonstrates knowledge of and commitment to best practices when working with children and adolescents.
Psychology Training
Additional psychology training may also be needed depending on your role within the school environment as well as local laws regarding mental health practitioners in educational settings. If you intend to perform assessments, write treatment plans, and provide direct therapy interventions, then additional qualifications such as becoming an LPCC or LMFT may be necessary. If you are only providing follow-up care services, then no additional requirements may be needed aside from having your RN/LPT/LVN license in good standing with your state’s Board of Nursing.
Experience Working With Children And Adolescents
School-based positions will typically require some experience caring for children and adolescents either through medical facility placements during training or through prior job experience as a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, etc. Having at least two years of experience working directly with patients aged 21 years old or younger will demonstrate proficiency and understanding when interacting with young clients while still assuring safety protocols are properly followed at all times.
4. Benefits of School-Based Healthcare Jobs
School-based healthcare jobs offer numerous advantages for people looking for a career in the health care field. These jobs are particularly suitable for those who wish to work in an environment that is geared toward children, adolescents, or young adults. In this article, we’ll explore some of the benefits of school-based healthcare jobs and why they might be perfect for you.
Flexible Schedule
One of the main advantages of school-based healthcare jobs is that they typically offer a flexible work schedule. Many positions come with part-time hours, so it’s possible to fit your job around any other commitments you may have. This makes this type of job ideal if you don’t have time commitment issues and still want to pursue a career in health care.
Interacting With Kids and Young Adults
If you enjoy interacting with children, school-based healthcare jobs can provide an excellent opportunity to do so on a daily basis. Working with youths can be incredibly rewarding as you help shape their future health, both physically and mentally.
Broad Range of Positions Available
School-based healthcare positions range from one particular field all the way up to general practitioners or nurses who are qualified in various fields such as psychology or paediatrics. So no matter what your preference maybe when it comes to helping others get well, there is likely a position available that caters to that need.
Competitive Salaries
The salaries offered by school district employers tend to be competitive due to the specific skillset required by these types of positions. Furthermore, many employers will also offer benefits such as tuition assistance towards further qualifications or paid vacation days. Similarly, in the field of nursing, travel nurses often command higher salaries than their permanently placed peers, attributed to the demand for their ability to adapt quickly and work in various healthcare settings. How much travel nurses make is influenced by factors such as geographical location, specialty, and the urgency of the need for their services, often resulting in substantial compensation packages that include bonuses, housing allowances, and travel reimbursements.
Great Opportunities for Growth
It’s not uncommon for school-based healthcare professionals to progress quickly through their careers due to their specialized skillset and experience dealing with children and young adults on a daily basis. Furthermore, given how much demand there currently is for such personnel across the United States due to rising student enrollment numbers per year and advancements in technology being used within physical education classes, it’s very likely that aspiring professionals will find great opportunities for growth within this space over coming years as well.
5. Challenges of School-Based Healthcare Jobs
Challenges of school-based healthcare jobs include a wide variety of duties including medical, administrative and educational tasks. There is the challenge of working in a multidisciplinary team, dealing with budget constraints, and learning how to work efficiently with limited resources. Additionally, providing quality healthcare in an educational setting often presents unique challenges such as establishing trust with teens, maintaining confidentiality while complying with edicts from governmental agencies and providing effective communication between parents, students and staff. Furthermore, understanding the signs and symptoms related to physical illnesses and disabilities as well as mental health diagnosis is vital for school-based healthcare professionals, so they can address and assist each student accordingly.
Before you make school-based healthcare your career, it is important to thoroughly research the field and get a better understanding of what the job entails. You should look into different roles in this field and investigate specific schools in your area to see which jobs are available and their requirements. Additionally, you should talk to healthcare professionals already working in the field to learn more about firsthand experiences and advice. Finally, certified courses or relevant internships can help provide you with an even better insight into whether this career is right for you.
