Pinellas County Schools Facing Nurse Shortage

With the start of school right around the corner, the Pinellas County School District is facing a school nursing shortage that could affect up to 35 of its 141 schools.  

A bad economy, low pay and caseloads that range from 3,500 to 5,000 students have made hiring qualified school nurses extremely challenging.

Several school nurses have already abandoned the district, while others are looking for more lucrative employment elsewhere. As a result, seven vacancies currently exist within the 45 allocated positions.   

“Many of our nurses like the job because the hours are better to raise a family. But if they have a mortgage and have to put food on the table, then they have to make a choice,” says Rita Becchetti, supervisor of school health services for Pinellas County Schools.

School nurses in Pinellas County are paid according to a support staff pay scale that is significantly lower than the teacher’s instructional pay scale. Becchetti estimates that the typical school nurse salary in Pinellas County is $25,000 a year.

Each nurse is responsible for up to five schools, and the salary is based on a six-hour-a-day, 10-month contract. “Many of our nurses have second jobs to make ends meet,” Becchetti says.

Salary.com estimates that the national median salary for school nurses is $43,800. Nurses in the private sector can make $65,400.   

Becchetti says she is racing against the clock to hire seven new school nurses in the next few weeks. Registered nurses who are interested in becoming a nurse with Pinellas County Schools can call Becchetti at 727-588-6320.