Submitted by Andrew Steger on Fri, 02/04/2022 - 07:18
Public health nurse in front of a group of people

How to Become a Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses are in high demand, and even more so during health crises such as pandemics or local disease outbreaks. These nurses receive the education and training of a typical registered nurse, but they specialize in understanding community populations and their health needs.

The public health nurse is curious and continually learning, and provides creative solutions to put critical information into the hands of those who need it most. As a community health nurse, you may work directly with patients, or you could work behind the scenes in areas such as epidemiology, policy, research or administration. Understanding what a public health nurse does and learning about potential job opportunities and other details, such as which degree to seek, can help you determine whether this is the right career choice for you.

 

 

What is a public health nurse?

A public health nurse helps promote healthy habits and protect the community by providing health screenings, vaccination clinics, contract tracing, and health education and information about disease prevention in collaboration with other community healthcare providers.

Public health nurses are focused on both acute issues, such as disease outbreaks and health effects of extreme weather, and the long-term safety of the public, including how to prevent health issues and create better access to health services, particularly for vulnerable populations. This type of nurse may work one-on-one with patients in facilities such as a community clinic or Veterans Affairs medical office, or work in areas such as research. Regardless, they spend much of their time focusing on ways to help serve underserved populations and local communities.

What does a public health nurse do?

A public health nurse is focused on preventing disease and minimizing the spread of illness or disease. The hours that you work vary based on the setting. For example, a public health nurse working in a community clinic may follow more traditional 9 to 5 hours, while a nurse working in community outreach may work evenings or weekends to effectively reach at-risk populations.

All that being said, you may still be wondering, “What does a public health nurse do, exactly?” As a public health nurse, you may do the following:

  • Examine community health trends and identify potential health risks to the populations that you serve.

  • Help with the planning of disease prevention campaigns that focus on minimizing the spread of illness or addressing other areas critical to health through such means as vaccination clinics, conducting contact tracing, and more.

  • Partner with government organizations, such as federal, state and local entities, to assist with the expansion of health programs into communities.

  • Educate communities about the programs available in their areas.

  • Collaborate with healthcare professionals such as doctors and administrators to deploy health programs in communities.

Public health nurses require a variety of skills, but perhaps one of the most important is excellent communication skills. These nurses are on the front lines serving communities that may not have access to traditional health resources. As a result, they spend time providing education and resources to ensure that people get access to the services they need most to support and improve their health.

Where does a public health nurse work?

A benefit of becoming a public health nurse is that you have many career opportunities. You can work directly with patients at a clinic, teach at a nursing college, or focus on research. A few potential opportunities include those at the following organizations:

  • Community health clinic. You can work directly with patients providing critical healthcare services through STD clinics, tuberculosis programs, women’s health, children’s health, and more. Working in this setting, you’ll support doctors and nurse practitioners in providing care that improves the health of at-risk populations.

  • Nonprofit health agencies. Nonprofit agencies hire these nurses to provide health support and outreach for specific community programs.

  • Home health agencies. Public health nurses are in demand by home health agencies due to their expertise caring for at-risk populations and strong background providing patient education.

  • Educational institutions. As a public health nurse, you’ll also be in demand at colleges and universities, where qualified nursing instructors are needed to shape the next generation’s education about community health issues.

Community health nurses may conduct research, work for government organizations, work in the U.S. military and more. There is no shortage of opportunities available to community health nurses, and you will have plenty of options upon receiving the required education and training. But what training do you need to become a community health nurse? Do you need a bachelor’s degree? Specialized work experience? Understanding more about requirements can help you chart the best path forward.

What are the required education and experience?

A public health nurse requires the same education as a registered nurse. However, since you will often be working with underserved populations, getting hands-on experience in this area is a benefit. Consider participating in community outreach with organizations that help those struggling with poverty and other challenges in your community. This will give you a sense of whether you enjoy the work and want to leverage your nursing skills in that area. Typical training and education required for a public health nurse include:

  • Attending an accredited nursing program. A few of the most popular career options for public health nurses include either completing an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN), or a Master of Science in nursing (MSN). In many cases, the preferred entry level degree is a BSN, which takes four years to complete. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, there are also online ABSN programs available which can make the path to completion much faster, often 2 years or less. Some students opt to take their education one step further, earning an MSN after completing their undergraduate studies (direct-entry nursing master’s programs are also available for students who have completed their undergraduate studies in a non-nursing field). Earning an MSN can open the door to further opportunities and help to improve compensation as well.

  • Taking the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is designed to ensure nurses have the requisite entry level knowledge of nursing needed to to practice as a registered nurse. All states currently require that you pass this exam to receive an RN license. States may have additional requirements, including passing a background check or submitting professional letters of recommendation. Check with your state’s board of nursing to learn more about its specific requirements.

  • Getting hands-on experience. Many employers prefer public health nurse applicants with at least two years of RN experience. Consider applying to positions that work with the populations that you would like to serve. After getting a couple of years of experience, apply to public nursing positions.

  • Seeking certification. Once you have experience in the area of public nursing, consider earning a certificate that demonstrates your education and experience in this area. There is one certification offered for healthcare professionals in this field: the Certified in Public Health credential. This certificate requires you to meet one of three requirements. You can have a bachelor’s degree in any concentration and a minimum of five years of public health experience, or you can have a graduate nursing degree and three years of public health experience. Alternatively, you can complete a program in public health and have at least three years of experience working in public health.

  • Completing continuing education requirements. The public nursing profession does not have a special requirement for continuing education; however, your state has CE requirements for registered nurses. Check with your state’s board of nursing to learn more about these requirements.

As you consider education options for this nursing practice, remember that many public health professionals opt for online programs to complete their Bachelor of Science in nursing. The benefit of online options is that they are flexible and can work around your existing personal and professional requirements. Although not completely self-paced, many of these programs do not have mandatory login times, allowing you to complete the program on your own time throughout the day. One exception, however, is clinical hours, which need to be performed on-site and on a set schedule.

Job outlook and compensation

The average salary for a public health nurse is $69,127, according to Indeed.com. The compensation range for this profession is $45,000 to $88,000 annually. This is on target with the median salary of the registered nurse profession overall, which is listed at $75,330 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The amount that you earn will largely depend on what kind of organization you work for, your experience and your location. For example, the highest-paying areas for public health nurses are New York, Georgia, California, and Washington, D.C.

Transitioning into your new career

The area of public health nursing is fast-changing, and nurses in this area have an opportunity to grow and learn long after their formal health education is complete. As a public health nurse, you can make an impact on your community and reach people who may otherwise be overlooked.

Determining whether this position is right for you involves getting hands-on experience with the populations you want to serve, getting general RN experience, and experimenting working in different community settings. Nurses transitioning into this field often find the job interesting and the service aspect of the position fulfilling, and enjoy the varied career opportunities that come with this nursing practice.

 

 


Sources:

  1. National Board of Public Health Examiners. https://www.nbphe.org/ (visited August 4, 2021).
  2. Indeed. How much does a Public Health Nurse make in the United States? https://www.indeed.com/career/public-health-nurse/salaries (visited August 4, 2021).
  3. PayScale. Average Public Health Nurse Hourly Pay. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Public_Health_Nurse/Hourly_Rate (visited August 4, 2021).
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm (visited August 4, 2021).
  5. Nurse.org. Public Health Nursehttps://nurse.org/resources/public-health-nurse/ (visited August 4, 2021).