Before you decide that you would like to specialize in public health nursing, you should set aside some time to research the nursing jobs specifically related to public health. As more and more of the American population gains access to healthcare, the demand for public health nursing professionals continues to grow proportionately. Just like there are a wide range of nursing positions in health practices and other settings, there are a variety of titles that you can hold in the public health sector in metropolitan, suburban and rural regions. Here are some of the titles that you can pursue if you would like to work in public health:
Working as a Nursing Assistant
Nursing Assistants, also called NA’s in the field, provide personal care to patients in a variety of different public health settings. They can work with patients of all ages and will always be under the supervision of a licensed and experienced Registered Nurse or supervisor. Some of your duties as an NA include dressing, bathing, feeding, toileting assistance, bladder care, vital signs, observations and more. Becoming an NA requires less schooling and could be a good stepping stone if you are seeking employment while you pursue an RN license, according to Explore Health Careers.
Jobs for Certified Public Health Nurses
If you work as a certified public health nurse, also known in the field as a PHN, you will work within your community to educate citizens about local health issues and to improve the quality of care in the area. There are a variety of different roles that you can play when you are trained as a registered nurse and you purse your PHN certification.
As a PHN, you will work with patients independently, develop care plans, administer medication an manage cases. You can eventually work up to becoming a senior PHN, who will act as the program expert by developing objectives, policies and new procedures. In some settings, the senior may also do what PHN’s do. The highest title that you can hold as a PHN is PHN Supervisor. As a supervisor, you are in charge of all of the nurses in your department. You will coordinate training, schedule nurses for coverage, evaluate performance, write-up nurses, and begin the termination process.
Nurse Manager Roles
If you would prefer not to work directly with patients, the nurse manager role may interest you. A nurse manager is in charge of PHN Supervisors but will not manage cases or provide patient care. Instead, the manager will work behind the scenes where they will develop budgets, recruit staff, apply for grants for public funding, perform community assessments, and perform quality assurance measurements. The Nurse Manager Senior will be in charge of nurse managers and is the go-to team member for the district nursing program.
Working in Public Health Outreach
There is always a need for outreach workers in nursing who help make it possible for members of a high-risk population to get the care that they need. Outreach workers may be interpreters who help secure patient histories, explain treatment options, provide transportation and more.
Related Resource: Certified Emergency Manager
If you would like to help improve the quality of care delivered in your area, you may want to work in public health nursing. Be sure to compare all of the nursing jobs specifically related to public health, and then you can decide which path you should take in college.