MPH, MSN, WHNP-BC
A health policy nurse, also known as a medical policy nurse, who works at the intersections of health care, public policy, and government.
The role is always evolving as policies, healthcare systems, technologies, and social views change.
Nurses in this specialty are educated and trained in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and assessment. However, their work focuses on the intersections of policies, public health organizations, and governments with a nursing lens.
Health policy nurses can be licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or registered nurses (RNs). Over the past decade, more places of employment are often seeking nurses who are RNs with an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in nursing.
In addition to a nursing degree, some will pursue a Master’s degree in public policy, health care policy, public health, or something similar.
Others work in the niche without additional formal education or training. Nurses often learn a significant amount of health care policies and practices when providing direct patient care or seeking resources and information from nursing management.
Many nurses will have a few years of nursing experience prior to working in the specialty.
Salary varies by state and place of employment, such as a hospital or private practice. Typically, nurses with more experience tend to have a higher salary.
According to ZipRecruiter.com, the average salary for a health policy nurse is $117,469. Note that this average varies depending on experience, location, and place of work.
Common places of employment include:
These nurses can also serve in nursing management roles, work in direct patient care, teach at nursing schools, or be independent consultants. 
People often think that health policy nurses look at legislation and keep up with the news all day. While public policies and government activities are a major part of their day, common tasks and responsibilities include:
This is just a sample of what health policy nurses can do! The scope of work mostly depends on their training, local boards of nursing, workplace practices, and local legislation.
Health policy nurses do so many things! They are often viewed as the go-to nurses for all things policy and health care related. While these nurses spend a lot of time examining policies and practices, they bridge the gaps of knowledge across several disciplines.
As governments continue to oversee healthcare systems and as more health policies are needed, the demand for this specialty continues to rise.
Unfortunately, there can be times when policies do not accurately reflect the needs of nurses and other health care professionals. That’s why health policy nurses are essential.
By bringing in a nursing lens with a policy focus, these nurses can lead the way for nurses in healthcare.
If you are thinking about becoming a health policy nurse or learning more about the profession, I would recommend looking into your local and state nursing associations and the American Nurse Association.
You can also learn about their inspiring work by reading the Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice journal and the Journal of Issues in Nursing.
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