Public Health Degree Jobs (NOW HIRING)

If you’re a current or aspiring nurse exploring different nursing specialties, you may be wondering, What is a public health nurse? and What makes this position unique? Like all nurses, public health nurses advocate for patients. However, the difference is the public health profession involves the health of an entire population, not just one patient at a time.

Public health nurses promote communities’ health, including towns, counties, states or entire countries. Their primary focus is on the community as a whole. The public health field is distinctive in its emphasis on prevention and reducing risk factors for disease and injury, especially where underserved and at‑risk populations are concerned. Some examples of this include encouraging children to wear bicycle helmets or helping smokers access smoking cessation support services.

Public health nurses engage in public policy and planning. They develop support systems and programs in the community to prevent problems and provide access to care. These professionals may also provide direct patient care.

Public health nurses may take social determinants of health into consideration for a holistic approach to community wellness because many factors can significantly influence health such as geography, education level, economic stability and social issues.

• Gather, record and analyze medical information. This information is used to help identify health trends in the community, such as a spike in heart attack deaths or an outbreak of foodborne illnesses.
• Influence public policy. These professionals aim to create more access to healthcare services and reduce healthcare disparities with the goal of generating better health outcomes for underserved and at‑risk patients.
• Develop public health initiatives. With the development of these initiatives comes overseeing the implementation and monitoring progress and effects.
• Education. Deliver health education one‑on‑one or to groups of people, often focusing on healthy lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of injury and disease.

If you’re exploring the possibility of becoming a public health nurse, you first should understand the public health nurse requirements.

As you can see, there are various routes you can take on your way to becoming a public health nurse. Regardless of which option best suits you, you can expect to continuously gain experience as you work to grow your knowledge of the field and serve your community by acting as an advocate for change.

High School Diploma

If you’re aspiring to become a public health nurse and you’re still in high school, speak with your counseling or advising team. They can help you develop an educational plan and suggest courses you can take now that may be beneficial later. Because nursing is a very science‑heavy field, taking various science courses in high school, such as biology or chemistry, may help you as you begin your nursing journey.

College Degree

An aspiring public health nurse must first become a registered nurse (RN). This process begins with an undergraduate degree in nursing through either an ADN or a bachelor’s degree in nursing program. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can provide you with a deeper understanding of essential nursing skills and critical thinking. In most states, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the minimum required to become a public health nurse. As a result, it can better prepare you to promote favorable patient outcomes. After earning your nursing degree, you will need to take and pass the NCLEX‑RN exam to become an RN.

After earning your BSN degree, you may choose to further your education to earn a master’s degree to help you achieve a deeper understanding of public health nursing. There are Master of Science in Nursing programs that offer an emphasis in public health, as well as Master of Public Health degrees.

Entry‑Level Roles

After you become an RN, you will need to gain experience as a nurse and pursue a position in public health nursing. Some may choose to pursue additional education right away or wait to gain experience before entering the field as a public health nurse.

Certificates

There are several certificate options that may help those aspiring to break into the public health sector to sharpen their skills in areas relevant to public health nursing. Some of these may include certificates in communication, leadership or nursing education.

Professional Certifications

In certain states, such as California and Minnesota, many employers require certification as a public health nurse. In New York, you may need certification to work as a school nurse, which is a public health specialty. While it is not legally required, many employers prefer public health nurses to have professional certification. A professional public health certification exam can be taken to earn a Certification in Public Health (CPH) after three years of experience. This certification can help you demonstrate your advanced knowledge, skills and commitment to the field of public health nursing.

Being a public health nurse requires a diverse set of skills.

Some of these skills include:

• Project management
• Analytical
• Interpersonal
• Problem‑solving

Public health nurses work in a variety of settings. Some work for nonprofits or governmental institutions, while others work for privately held healthcare companies. Those in county and state health departments also work to implement health initiatives and track their progress and impact over time. Many work in administrative roles, although registered nurses can also provide direct care in public health clinics.

• Health Clinics – Public health nurses can work at clinics to become a part of promoting change, providing healthcare education and other awareness services aimed at helping improve the health of the community. Clinics can be part of larger health care organizations, free‑standing non‑governmental organizations or the public health department.
• County and State Health Departments – Public health nurses who work in county or state health departments are primarily community advocates. They use their knowledge to influence and develop public policies to improve the health of the region they serve, such as preparing emergency preparedness programs, evaluating existing programs, and implementing new programs based on population/community assessments.
• Nonprofit Organizations – These organizations are dedicated to improving healthcare for disenfranchised communities. Public health nurses who work for them may take on various tasks, ranging from educating communities on disease outbreak prevention to spearheading an initiative to deliver clean drinking water to disaster relief programs.
• School Systems – School system nurses play a critical role in the community’s health. Nurses can exert an influence on the next generation by educating young people about important health issues and helping them develop healthy habits. In addition to facilitating education about personal hygiene and other essential topics, school nurses evaluate healthcare concerns and administer prescribed medications.
• Home Care and Hospice – Nurses working in home care and hospice must be self‑directed and able to work autonomously in the community, caring for patients in their homes. Nurses in home care and hospice provide direct care and continuous assessments to plan the best plan of care for their patients.

For those in the nursing field who are looking to advance to the highest level of nursing education, GCU offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. This degree program is ideal for nurse leaders who are looking to impact healthcare from the forefront. This program will teach you the theoretical and scientific foundations of healthcare, allowing you the opportunity to potentially reach clinical excellence and make a difference in your community through various high‑level roles.

When reviewing public health nurse salary estimates, we can look at the annual median data for registered nurses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses have a median annual wage of $86,070 as of May 2023.

While the BLS does not have specific job growth data for public health nurses, we can look at registered nursing data to get an idea of the growth in this industry. The BLS estimates job growth for registered nurses to increase by at least 6% from 2022 to 2032, faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 177,400 jobs in the field.