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School nurse vs public health nurse

The differences between school nurses and public health 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 school nurse and a public health nurse. Additionally, a public health nurse has an average salary of $60,319, which is higher than the $54,998 average annual salary of a school nurse.

The top three skills for a school nurse include CPR, school health and health education. The most important skills for a public health nurse are community health, patients, and health education.

School nurse vs public health nurse overview

School NursePublic Health Nurse
Yearly salary$54,998$60,319
Hourly rate$26.44$29.00
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs282,124310,843
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

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.

What does a public health nurse do?

A Public Health Nurse maintains the public's health through providing health services and information. They promote a healthy lifestyle, take part in health campaigns, and educate and inform the public about issues, such as preventing disease.

School nurse vs public health nurse salary

School nurses and public health nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

School NursePublic Health Nurse
Average salary$54,998$60,319
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $77,000Between $42,000 And $84,000
Highest paying CityProvidence, RISan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandHawaii
Best paying companyPreston High SchoolDignity Health
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between school nurse and public health nurse education

There are a few differences between a school nurse and a public health nurse in terms of educational background:

School NursePublic Health Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

School nurse vs public health nurse demographics

Here are the differences between school nurses' and public health nurses' demographics:

School NursePublic Health Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 6.3% Female, 93.7%Male, 7.5% Female, 92.5%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between school nurse and public health nurse duties and responsibilities

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.
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Public health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Participate in manage care activities to produce health change, specifically providing diabetes education and lifestyle counseling in chronic disease areas.
  • Assist in application of traction devices.perform routine tests such as urine dip stick, vision and hearing tests.
  • Dispense medications and provide education for TB patients.
  • Provide basic CPR classes at the community level as well.
  • Produce and conduct staff classes such as CPR, respiratory protection, infectious diseases, etc.
  • Instruct family in the care and rehabilitation of patient, maintenance of health and prevention of disease for family members.
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School nurse vs public health nurse skills

Common school nurse skills
  • CPR, 13%
  • School Health, 10%
  • Health Education, 6%
  • Health Problems, 5%
  • Health Services, 5%
  • Emergency Care, 4%
Common public health nurse skills
  • Community Health, 10%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Health Education, 8%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Communicable Diseases, 5%
  • Home Health, 3%

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