Public Health Nurse: Nursing Specialties Breakdown

• Learn about the role of public health nurses in their community and the responsibilities of these nurses.
• Explore the benefits of becoming a public health nurse, including salary and professional influence.
• Discover what certifications and steps nurses can take to become a public health nurse.

Public health nurses (or community health nurses) are a valuable asset to the healthcare industry. They work behind the scenes and on the frontline to ensure that the general public is healthy and safe. PHNs focus on population health – utilizing strategies that are aimed at health promotion and disease prevention for communities. Learn about the field of public health nursing and how to become a PHN.

What is a Public Health Nurse?

Public health nurses (PHNs) are experts at population health management – “a process of improving clinical health outcomes of a defined group of individuals.”

Many PHNs work for federal organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state or county health departments. They can also work at hospitals, school districts, and independent companies (like amusement parks). PHNs can serve in rural health, employee health, or infection control. They can take on local and international public health assignments, for example, with the Peace Corps. PHNs can work with various populations including families, children, inmates, or those diagnosed with infectious diseases (like TB).

Role responsibilities for PHNs may include:

• Collect, interpret, and monitor disease and other health-related data
• Monitor infection prevention measures
• Participate in disease investigations
• Respond to public health emergencies
• Administer vaccines to the community
• Design community care plans
• Provide health education to the public through various means
• Develop and present educational training programs to nurses and other professionals
• Serve as liaisons to hospitals, schools, and other organizations
• Advocate for health policy changes

During the COVID-19 pandemic, PHNs investigated case contacts, educated the public on isolation and quarantine practices, and interpreted data from the CDC. Public health nurses may also be assigned to work on projects that are related to epidemiology, environmental health, or public safety.

Public Health Nurse Salary

A PHN’s salary is comparable to that of a clinical RN. PHNs in the U.S. make an average of $75,340 a year (and as high as $117,000). The highest-paid positions include public health nurse practitioners ($131,543) and health policy nurses ($120,333).

The top five states paying the highest PHN salary include:

• Nevada ($89,336)
• Massachusetts ($87,681)
• Alaska ($84,499)
• Washington ($81,525)
• New York ($79,356)

While PHNs can make a considerable amount of money, nurses should keep in mind that salary is dependent on many factors including job description, location, years of experience, and educational level.

How to Become a Public Health Nurse

Nurses who desire to serve in public health may need to meet certain qualifications in order to practice as a PHN in their state. Public health training is what separates a PHN from an RN. This training may already be integrated into the curriculum of some Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. Requirements may vary depending on the state in which a nurse wants to practice.

Here are the steps to becoming a PHN:

• Obtain a BSN
• Pass the NCLEX and obtain an RN license
• Gain experience in the public health setting
• Apply for certification through an organization or state nursing board

Nurses should check to see if certification can be obtained through their state’s nursing board. For example, California’s Board of Registered Nursing gives PHN licenses to BSN-prepared RNs who have gained 90 hours of supervised clinical training in a public health setting.

While some state nursing boards do not offer PHN certification or licenses, nurses can obtain one through various organizations. An Advanced Public Health Nursing Certification or National Healthcare Disaster Certification can be obtained through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Nurses may also obtain a Public Health Certification through the National Board of Public Health Examiners after passing an exam; however, this certification is not nursing-specific.

There may be some PHN positions that only require an associate degree in nursing, many employers prefer a BSN or higher. Obtaining a PHN job is as simple as doing an internet search.

The CDC along with many state and county health departments hire PHNs. Newly licensed PHNs should consider that some positions may require extended years of public health experience. Entry-level positions may require new PHNs to be flexible with the departments or populations they will serve.

The Bottom Line

According to the Association of Public Health Nurses, PHNs are the largest professional discipline in the federal public health workforce. PHNs play an important role in maintaining the health of the nation.  If nurses want to make a local, national, or global impact in population health, public health nursing may be the way to go.

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