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Discharge planner vs school nurse

The differences between discharge planners and school nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a discharge planner and a school nurse. Additionally, a school nurse has an average salary of $54,998, which is higher than the $52,855 average annual salary of a discharge planner.

The top three skills for a discharge planner include patients, social work and home health. The most important skills for a school nurse are CPR, school health, and health education.

Discharge planner vs school nurse overview

Discharge PlannerSchool Nurse
Yearly salary$52,855$54,998
Hourly rate$25.41$26.44
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs31,021282,124
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a discharge planner do?

In the health industry, a discharge planner is primarily responsible for assessing and meeting the patients' needs as they transition to their lives after being in the hospital. It is their duty to study the patients' medical history, provide discharge summaries to the patients' insurance providers, arrange services with external parties such as rehabilitation centers or therapists, and develop discharge plans that would guide the patients' on their journey to recovery. Moreover, they coordinate with medical experts and work with the patients' families to ensure the patient's welfare.

What does a school nurse do?

A school nurse is in charge of advocating and providing healthcare services to students, faculty, and staff daily. Their responsibilities revolve around providing necessary treatments to someone in need, developing programs that promote students' health, and administering proper medication. When a school nurse must reach out to parents to inform them of their children's visits or any emergencies, it must be documented. Furthermore, a school nurse must appropriately store all equipment and medication in adherence to the school's safety and health standards.

Discharge planner vs school nurse salary

Discharge planners and school nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Discharge PlannerSchool Nurse
Average salary$52,855$54,998
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $82,000Between $39,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-Providence, RI
Highest paying state-Rhode Island
Best paying company-Preston High School
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between discharge planner and school nurse education

There are a few differences between a discharge planner and a school nurse in terms of educational background:

Discharge PlannerSchool Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorSocial WorkNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Discharge planner vs school nurse demographics

Here are the differences between discharge planners' and school nurses' demographics:

Discharge PlannerSchool Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 13.6% Female, 86.4%Male, 6.3% Female, 93.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between discharge planner and school nurse duties and responsibilities

Discharge planner example responsibilities.

  • Manage full caseload of patients providing both supportive and educational counseling as well as utilization review and case management services.
  • Assist patients with completing Medicaid applications.
  • Coordinate and facilitate patient placement post discharge in clinical facilities, including SNF and rehabilitation programs.
  • Maintain verbal contact with family/petitioner, in compliance with HIPAA and JCAHO policy, with regards to consumer needs.
  • Facilitate transportation prior to approval from Medicaid including ambulance transfer.
  • Follow and adhere to facility policies and procedures implementing HIPAA requirements
  • Show more

School nurse example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage care plans for students with chronic health conditions (such as diabetes, food allergies and depression).
  • Evaluate and manage post-exposure of blood-borne pathogens.
  • Administer medications, evaluate prescription needs and facilitate prescription management, chemotherapy teaching, assess and manage chemotherapy side effects.
  • Perform employee physical exams including hearing and spirometry as required.
  • Provide patient care for PCI patients, mechanically-ventilate patients and an overall variety of critically ill patients.
  • Perform drug testing, physicals, PFT and xrays.
  • Show more

Discharge planner vs school nurse skills

Common discharge planner skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Social Work, 18%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Social Services, 3%
Common school nurse skills
  • CPR, 13%
  • School Health, 10%
  • Health Education, 6%
  • Health Problems, 5%
  • Health Services, 5%
  • Emergency Care, 4%

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