MPH, BSN, RN
After graduating with a master’s in public health, I decided to leave bedside nursing and explore specialties that were less stressful and work with people who were not acutely ill. The job search was long and discouraging, and I started to second guess my decision.
The thing about switching specialties is it can be difficult to change if you aren’t already working at the organization.
However, I was offered a position as a Population Health Nurse (PHN). I had never heard of such a role and didn’t know what to expect. Nonetheless, I considered it to be a great opportunity and welcomed any challenges. While I was no stranger to outpatient nursing, this position was non-clinical and dealt with more administrative duties.
At the time, the population health program was new, but successful, and expanding to meet the needs of a more diverse population. For nurses looking for a non-clinical position that can create impact on a larger scale, here is an in-depth look into the world of population health nursing.
The PHN role developed after healthcare shifted toward establishing more measures that decrease healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. This shift placed more emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention across various populations. As a result, the PHN role started gaining traction. You may find population health nurses working for insurance companies, clinics, schools, and health departments.
The PHN focuses on the health management of a population such as children, those with mental illness, pregnant women, and Medicare recipients. They conduct annual wellness visits to create individualized plans and link patients to necessary services to help them achieve their health goals. In my role, I conducted annual wellness visits with disabled and 65 and older Medicare recipients in a primary care clinic. The annual wellness visit increases access to the provider without overwhelming their workload.
An annual wellness visit consists of reviewing medical records, ensuring everything is up to date and accurate. Medications are reviewed and patient education is provided with a focus on medication management to identify those at risk for poor medication adherence. We conduct depression and anxiety assessments, and review fall risk factors.
Cognitive screenings also are performed to detect cognitive decline. Diet and exercise habits specific to the patient’s medical history are discussed and health goals are established. Patients are given the resources needed to accomplish these goals, such as reading materials, referrals to weight management and dieticians, contact information for insurance-covered gym memberships and wellness programs, and community resources that are aligned with their specific disease management. Health screenings and vaccinations are discussed, scheduled, or updated during wellness visits.
Social history is collected to paint a better picture of the patient and identify their support systems. In addition, PHNs address the patient’s social determinants of health, which can largely affect their health outcome. The social determinants of health are the conditions of a person’s environment that influence their health functioning and quality of life. Some examples are transportation, food insecurity, housing stability, and utility access. The most challenging part of the role is identifying resources, especially in rural areas. Most of the assessments are standard in most settings, but PHNs approach them in collaboration with a provider and/or community resources.
The PHN role is a perfect balance of autonomy and collaboration. Visits are guided by the PHN and standing orders are used to close gaps in a patient’s health maintenance. Workflow is flexible and can be tailored to what works best for the nurse in that setting. Each visit can take up to an hour and the schedule is set by the nurse. The number of patients seen daily is capped in some cases.
Typically, the PHN gives a hand off to the provider who is always in the office, and this facilitates continuity of care. PHNs have direct access to other members of the healthcare team and community resources to ensure the patient has been linked with the appropriate services. In my experience, most patients find these visits to be helpful and express gratitude in feeling heard and not being rushed with their concerns.
Being a population health nurse has allowed me to get to know more about my community and the people who live in it. It’s perfect for nurses who enjoy talking with people and finding new and creative ways to link people with resources. I remember feeling helpless discharging patients from the hospital knowing their environmental conditions did not support their treatment plan. The PHN role allows me to empower patients to take control of their health and stay on track with their goals. It’s also low stress, flexible, and brings several educational opportunities that can be used throughout your nursing career. It certainly taught me so many things and allowed me to be influential in keeping patients out of the hospital.
Love what you read?
Share our insider knowledge and tips!
Read More
Specialties Nursing Care for Patients Who Have Developmental Delays Caring for patients who have developmental delays requires a unique blend of knowledge, patience, compassion, and adaptability. The term “developmental delay” is used to describe conditions in which...
Specialties Float or Dock? Consider These Factors if You Want to Be a Float Pool Nurse In recent years, nurse residence programs have added a float pool nurse track. A float pool nurse is hired to aid with staffing shortages on multiple units, and the unit...
Specialties Pediatric Nursing is Crucial for Managing Childhood Diseases Childhood diseases are among the most common causes of hospitalizations for infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric nurses play a crucial role in managing care ranging from appropriate...
