From small rural communities to densely populated urban areas, residents need high-quality healthcare. In some communities, however, resources may be scarce.
Public health nurses ensure all groups of people receive the care they need. Depending on the specific job requirements and setting, they may provide preventative care, treat illnesses and advocate for the public.
This article explores how to become a public health nurse. We’ll explain each step required along this career path and highlight a few professional organizations that serve as helpful resources. Read on to learn more about this exciting and impactful profession.
What Is a Public Health Nurse?
Public health nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who provide care for groups of people, such as low-income families, pregnant individuals, residents in specific geographical areas, and people who have chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and drug addiction. Their work typically combines nursing care and public health issues, allowing them to consider the cultural, social, historical and environmental aspects of public healthcare.
Public health nurses work in various environments, including county health departments, nonprofit organizations, individual and private healthcare agencies, and government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While public health nurses’ job duties vary in scope, some typical responsibilities include:
- Educating the public about medical conditions, health risks, preventative care and other healthcare subjects
- Providing preventative screenings for various medical conditions or infectious diseases
- Administering immunizations or providing medical care
- Working closely with the public and community leaders to handle health issues related to infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters or other hazardous events
- Evaluating the wellness needs of specific groups of people within communities
- Assisting the public with finding helpful community resources
- Collaborating with disaster relief organizations during emergencies
- Working with nutrition assistance or social programs for at-risk families
- Focusing on disease prevention and maintaining a high standard of public health and wellness
How To Become a Public Health Nurse
Below, we explore public health nurse requirements, including degrees and licensure.
Earn a Degree
If you want to become a public health nurse, you must earn a degree that prepares you to earn nursing licensure. Your options include an associate degree in nursing (A.D.N.) and a Bachelor of Science in nursing (B.S.N.).
An A.D.N. takes about two years and covers the basic principles of working as a registered nurse. A four-year B.S.N. dives into additional subjects, including leadership, healthcare management and research.
While you typically only need an A.D.N. to start working as a registered nurse, employers may prefer candidates with a B.S.N. for entry-level public health nursing roles. Later, if you want to move into higher-level leadership positions, you might consider earning a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) or a Master of Public Health.
Gain Experience Through Nursing Clinicals
Your nursing degree program provides you with clinical experience that helps prepare you for a public health nursing career. However, each state determines its own clinical hour requirements for registered nurses, so ensure your program fulfills the licensing criteria in your state.
Clinical hours allow you to gain real-world experience working with patients, which is essential for this field. Potential options for your clinical experience include labor and delivery, pediatrics, long-term care, community health organizations and mental healthcare facilities.
Become Licensed
Like any other registered nurse, public health nurses must be licensed. Aspiring RNs must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to earn licensure through their state board of nursing.
Public Health Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides salary and job outlook data for many careers. While it does not report specific salary data on public health nurses, it does offer insight into the general category of registered nurses, including those who work in public health.
BLS data shows that the median annual salary for registered nurses was $81,220 as of May 2022. The highest-paid RNs worked in government settings, earning a median salary of $92,310 per year. Employment for registered nurses is expected to increase by 6% from 2022 to 2032, nearly double the nationwide rate.
Public Health Nurse Specializations
Educational institutions often categorize public health as a nursing specialty, especially within M.S.N. programs. Specialized coursework may include environmental health, healthcare research, healthcare policy, leadership and diversity, and a public health nursing practicum.
While you may want to pursue a specialized degree, it’s not necessarily required for all public health nursing jobs. RNs who choose other focus areas, such as pediatrics, school nursing or mental health, may work as public health nurses.
You can also choose to focus your public health nursing career in a particular area. Some examples include:
- Community healthcare centers
- Schools
- Academic health centers
- State and federal agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
Certifications for Public Health Nurses
Earning a public health nursing certification can help bridge your expertise as an RN with the overarching field of public health. Consider pursuing the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential, governed by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. This certification suits nurses and other public health professionals.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center previously offered national certification for public health nurses, but this certification program has been retired. The organization still offers renewals for its Advanced Public Health Nursing Certification, but if you’re just starting your career, this advanced certification won’t apply to you.
In some cases, public health nurses must earn state certification. Check with your jurisdiction to learn more about its requirements.
Professional Organizations for Public Health Nurses
Since the nursing profession encompasses many career paths, there are hundreds of national, state and international professional nursing organizations. Many of these organizations cater to certain nursing specialties, such as emergency, critical care, pediatric or medical-surgical nurses. This article highlights a few organizations for public health nurses.
Association of Public Health Nurses (APHN)
APHN provides access to educational opportunities, leadership development and mentorship, networking opportunities, advocacy, conferences and webinars, preparation for CPH credentialing, policy papers on public health nursing roles, and other valuable information.
American Public Health Association (APHA)
APHA caters to many types of public health professionals, including public health nurses. It offers educational webinars, public health news and research information, newsletters and legislative updates, books and publications, career coaching and résumé assistance, member discounts and networking opportunities.
Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE)
ACHNE promotes high-quality public health nursing research, practice and education to ensure healthy communities. Membership benefits include a quarterly newsletter, networking, discounted educational programs, conferences, a career board, and opportunities to critique national documents that cover nursing and health policy.
American Nurses Association (ANA)
ANA serves all nurses by providing career development resources, educational webinars, member discounts, nursing news and information, networking opportunities, advocacy opportunities with policymakers, and state nurses’ association membership benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How to Become a Public Health Nurse
What skills do you need to be a public health nurse?
To be a public health nurse, you must have excellent interpersonal, communication, analytical and clinical skills. You should also be empathetic and comfortable collaborating with physicians, patients, other medical professionals and community leaders.
What’s the difference between a clinical nurse specialist and a public health nurse?
A clinical nurse specialist, a type of advanced practice registered nurse, has a graduate degree in nursing and works to optimize the clinical care environment. A clinical nurse specialist typically works in physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics and hospitals, while a public health nurse works directly with communities and may tackle large-scale problems.
Is public health a good career choice?
Whether a public health career is a good choice depends entirely on your career goals. If you like the idea of working with people in communities to educate them, help prevent infectious diseases and treat medical conditions, then it may be a good option for you.
