 Public health nurses improve
health care in the community. Public health nurses devote themselves to the health and well-being of the communities they serve by educating them in beneficial health practices and disease prevention. They identify common health problems in the community while treating patients, and work to create intervention plans to correct or prevent the health and safety issues they discover. Learn more about public health nursing to discover whether community health care is the right career fit for you and your scrubs.  Public Health Nurse Career Overview A public health nurse strives to promote prevention over treatment. By correcting poor health practices and maintaining a safe home or work environment, patients lower risks to their health and require fewer visits to health care facilities. The goal of a public health nursing career is to educate patients through community-based intervention programs, which identify and correct multiple health issues and safety hazards: - Improper diet
- Infectious and sexually transmitted diseases
- Social violence
- Substance abuse
- Teen pregnancy
As a public health nursing professional, you are called on to provide access to health care to many who may not normally be able to afford medical services. Your patients include poor and uninsured populations from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds. If your patient needs treatment or an immunization, but can't afford the cost of a health care facility, you may be called on to administer the services. Not only do you treat patients, you also connect them with other necessary health services they may require. Your nursing career in public health can lead to several different working environments, including a patient's home, community center and workplace, to provide medical assistance or perform inspections. Opportunities to use your nursing degree can be found in facilities that treat patients 24 hours a day, but employment for a school or business usually provides a stable work schedule within their hours of operation. Emergency response positions are available with the federal government in teams leading sanitary relief efforts for the survivors of disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. Large-scale disasters require emergency plans, created by public health nurses, to be in place beforehand to minimize possible dangers and aid in the safe evacuation and housing of victims, if necessary. Public Health Nurse Education To apply for graduate-level public health nursing degree courses, you need to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and have an unrestricted registered nursing license. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a nursing school usually takes two years with an average tuition cost of $12,426.* Because of the numerous roles a public health nurse plays in the community, nursing schools offer a variety of health care courses on the path to your nursing degree: - Biostatistics
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Certification for your public health nursing career is available once you earn your BSN or MSN degree and have two years of nursing experience while holding a registered nursing license. Certification is not required to begin practice with your nursing degree, but earning one increases your chances of being hired and promoted. Public Health Nurse Salary A public health nursing career income varies based on your experience, education and location of work. According to PayScale, the average yearly income of a certified public health nurse is $51,000. The middle 50 percent earn between $44,000 and $64,000. A public health nurse earns a higher salary than the average registered nursing career, due to specialized training. Public Health Nurse Career Outlook The average American life expectancy has increased by approximately 30 years since 1900, with a lot of the credit due to the efforts of public health nurses and their community-based programs. This nursing career plays a vital role in the health care system educating and treating some of the most vulnerable populations. The nursing shortage is having an impact on how effectively the public health nursing workforce operates as more nurses are becoming eligible for retirement. Demand is very high and positions are available for qualified public health nurses. Job demand positively affects salaries, schedules, job openings and the availability of training institutions and government grants for education. These reasons, coupled with the fact that nursing is a rewarding profession, make public health nursing an attractive career choice. The Association of Community Health Nursing Educators(ACHNE) is an organization where you can connect with other public health nursing professionals, employers looking for nurses to expand their staff, and community health events. Sources:
*Association of Schools of Public Health
Bureau of Labor Statistics |
