Public health nurses are community-facing healthcare professionals focused on disease-prevention and education. Read this comprehensive guide to find out what it takes to join this rewarding nursing specialty.
While most registered nurses (RNs) treat individual patients, those in public health advocate for the health of entire communities. Public health nurses (PHNs) work in healthcare teams to provide education and disease prevention within these communities, focusing on high-risk populations.
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GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
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WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
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BSN-to-MSN - Family NP BSN-to-MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health NP BSN-to-MSN - Nursing Education RN-to-MSN - Nursing Education RN-to-MSN - Nursing Leadership & Management
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Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. With three degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
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MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP MSN - Family NP MSN - Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP MSN - Adult/Gerontology Primary Care NP MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care MSN - Nursing Education MSN - Nursing Informatics MSN - Public Health Nursing
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As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4
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The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines public health nursing as "the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences" (2013).
Following this definition, PHNs work to promote and protect community health by collaborating with healthcare teams to deliver healthcare education and disease prevention to groups. Instead of treating acute health conditions, they focus on long-term health, safety, disease prevention, and improving a community's access to care.
Public health nurses often serve underprivileged populations in the US and around the world. They deliver education and care to at-risk populations and are particularly active during public health crises. Some examples of groups PHNs work with include unhoused people, the elderly, or immigrant communities.
The role of a public health nurse involves prevention, education, advocacy, activism, assessment, and evaluation of public health. They focus on disease prevention within high-risk communities through education and support.
Some duties a PHN nurse may take on to support these goals include:
Like other nursing specialties, the first step to becoming a PHN is earning your registered nursing license. Then, you'll gain relevant working experience and earn a public health nursing certification.
You can attend a 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to become an RN.
While both degrees qualify you to take the NCLEX-RN exam, the public health nurse certification requires a BSN. So, you may start with an ADN, but you need to work up to your bachelor's before earning your PHN credentials.
After graduating from nursing school, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed registered nurse. This test assesses whether you have the clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and abilities needed to become an entry-level nurse.
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While not necessary for many entry-level PHN jobs, bedside experience has undeniable benefits. For example, working as a staff nurse can help guide your career decisions, leading you toward public health or a specialty more suited to your interests.
Additionally, bedside experience can help you land better public health nursing jobs. Not only will it increase your confidence, but it will also fill your resume with impressive, relevant accomplishments that give you a competitive edge.
Like other public health professionals, PHNs can earn the Certified Public Health credential. While not specific to nursing, this certification showcases your knowledge and skills in the public health sciences. Earning and maintaining this credential signifies your dedication to excellence in the field.
Eligibility requirements for the CPH include:
The computer-based exam costs $385, and retakes cost $150. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, which you'll have four hours to complete.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that RNs earn a median annual salary of $86,070 per year, or $41.38 per hour. Comparatively, Indeed reveals that public health nurses earn $72,827 per year, slightly less than the national average.
Currently, the states with the highest annual public health nurse salary are as follows:
Source: ZipRecruiter, Extracted 21 March 2024
Payscale reports an annual salary of $71,803 per year or $32.61 per hour. They add that public health nurses can earn a higher annual salary with increased years of experience.
You can optimize your public health nursing salary by pursuing jobs in high-paying workplaces. Although PHNs can work in several environments, those working in a private office setting tend to earn the most.
Additionally, advanced education, experience, and certifications can help increase your salary. These factors make you eligible for higher-paid PHN positions and give you leverage during salary negotiations.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
