Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nursing Overview

If you’re a current or aspiring nurse exploring different nursing specialties, you may be wondering, What is a public health nurse? and What makes this position unique? Like all nurses,
public health nurses advocate for patients
. However, the difference is the public health profession involves the health of an entire population
, not just one patient at a time.

Public health nurses promote communities’ health, including towns, counties, states or entire countries. Their primary focus is on the community as a whole. The public health field is distinctive in its emphasis on prevention and reducing risk factors for disease and injury, especially where underserved and at‑risk populations are concerned. Some examples of this include encouraging children to wear bicycle helmets or helping smokers access smoking cessation support services.

Public health nurses engage in public policy and planning. They develop support systems and programs in the community to prevent problems and provide access to care. These professionals may also provide direct patient care.

Public health nurses may take social determinants of health into consideration for a holistic approach to community wellness because many factors can significantly influence health such as geography, education level, economic stability and social issues.

• Gather, record and analyze medical information. This information is used to help identify health trends in the community, such as a spike in heart attack deaths or an outbreak of foodborne illnesses.
• Influence public policy. These professionals aim to create more access to healthcare services and reduce healthcare disparities with the goal of generating better health outcomes for underserved and at‑risk patients.
• Develop public health initiatives. With the development of these initiatives comes overseeing the implementation and monitoring progress and effects.
• Education. Deliver health education one‑on‑one or to groups of people, often focusing on healthy lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of injury and disease.

If you’re exploring the possibility of becoming a public health nurse, you first should understand the public health nurse requirements.

As you can see, there are various routes you can take on your way to becoming a public health nurse. Regardless of which option best suits you, you can expect to continuously gain experience as you work to grow your knowledge of the field and serve your community by acting as an advocate for change.

High School Diploma

If you’re aspiring to become a public health nurse and you’re still in high school, speak with your counseling or advising team. They can help you develop an educational plan and suggest courses you can take now that may be beneficial later. Because nursing is a very science‑heavy field, taking various science courses in high school, such as biology or chemistry, may help you as you begin your nursing journey.

College Degree

An aspiring public health nurse must first become a registered nurse (RN). This process begins with an undergraduate degree in nursing through either an ADN or a bachelor’s degree in nursing program. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can provide you with a deeper understanding of essential nursing skills and critical thinking. In most states, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the minimum required to become a public health nurse.

As a result, it can better prepare you to promote favorable patient outcomes. After earning your nursing degree, you will need to take and pass the NCLEX‑RN exam to become an RN.

After earning your BSN degree, you may choose to further your education to earn a master’s degree to help you achieve a deeper understanding of public health nursing. There are Master of Science in Nursing programs that offer an emphasis in public health, as well as Master of Public Health degrees.

Entry‑Level Roles

After you become an RN, you will need to gain experience as a nurse and pursue a position in public health nursing. Some may choose to pursue additional education right away or…