How To Become A Public Health Nurse

A public health nurse works to promote and protect the community and their health through disease prevention, health education, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. In this article you will read On How To become A Public Health Nurse

WHAT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE?

A public health nurse looks at many factors when assessing illnesses or injuries. Instead of waiting for patients to come to them, they are active in their communities to help improve the health of the population. Because they are trained as registered nurses, they can offer accurate and helpful information about how people can protect their health.

A primary focus of public health nurses is on education. They work with senior centers, community groups, schools, and other organizations to inform people about important health issues. They may demonstrate various safety practices, teach family members how to care for disabled or sick loved ones or encourage people to get tested or vaccinated against diseases. They work to make health information accessible for individuals to understand so they can make informed choices about their health. 

Rural or low-income communities benefit from public health nurses who may teach prenatal and baby care, immunize children at school, help the elderly stay safe, and more. During a health crisis or emergency, you will often find public health nurses on the front lines. 

Read Also

• list of Accredited postgraduate Nursing Courses at buk 2022
• How to become a Nursing Informatics Specialist
• Types of Masters degree in nursing
• Best Nursing Schools In Nigeria

Public Health Nurse Salary and Experience

Payscale.com reports an annual salary of $59,655 per year or $29.26 per hour. They add that public health nurses can earn a higher annual salary with increased years of experience.

• Less than one year of experience earns an average hourly wage of $25.36
• 1-4 years of experience earns an average hourly wage of $27.66
• 5-9 years of experience earns an average hourly wage of $30.60
• 10-19 years of experience earns an average hourly wage of $31.76

WHAT DOES A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE DO?

For a public health nurse, the ultimate goal is to promote public wellness, prevent illness and disease, and reduce health risks within the population. Their role may be focused on only a few specific tasks, or they might be a jack-of-all-trades in their communities. In general, the responsibilities of public health nurses include:

• Assessing health trends to identify health risk factors specific to communities
• Assigning priorities for health-related interventions to provide the most significant benefit
• Advocacy with local, state, and federal authorities in improving access to health services in under-served communities
• Design and implement health education campaigns and activities for disease prevention
• Provide information on local health programs and services that are available to improve access to care
• Providing direct health care services to at-risk populations
• Recording and analyzing medical data
• Developing relationships with patients and following up with care
• Managing the budget of various community health programs
• Referring people to other related services
• Delivering medical care when needed
• public health nursing

WHAT IS THE JOB OUTLOOK AND SALARY RANGE FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE?

There is a growing demand for public health nurses, particularly in those low-income communities that are medically under-served. Many government agencies have recognized the benefits of preventive and health education services provided by public health nurses in reducing overall healthcare costs. Because they often serve a diverse population, Bilingual nurses who are fluent in Spanish and English are desperately needed. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR NURSES IN PUBLIC HEALTH?

Public health nurses are employed in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community health centers, and other organizations improving health at a community level. They may work alone or on multidisciplinary teams, and they often supervise other health care and lay personnel. In addition to working with communities, they work behind the scenes planning activities, managing budgets, and evaluating the effectiveness of public health programs.

WHERE DO PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES WORK?

Public Health Nurses work in a variety of settings, including:

• Outpatient and community clinics 
• Government organizations 
• School systems
• Nonprofit organizations

WHAT DEGREE SHOULD I PURSUE TO WORK AS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE?

Those who wish to enter the field of public nursing will need at least an associate degree in nursing to get started, but a bachelor’s degree is preferable. However, to work as a nurse in public health, a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) or a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) is strongly advised. Public health nurses pursuing an MPH also may choose to pursue a specialization in public health, such as epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, etc.

MSc Nursing Degree

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is an advanced nursing degree for registered nurses and the doorway to high-paying healthcare careers. While it takes between two to three years to obtain an MSN, it is worth considering since it is likely to impact your career substantially. It’s for R.N.s who want to enhance their current skills to provide an advanced level of care to their patients and will give you the knowledge to practice in advanced nursing practice positions, including: 

• Nurse Anesthetist 
• Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Midwife
• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Executive
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist

There are plenty of terrific online MSN programs for those who want to pursue this career path, and the curriculum depends on whoever specialty you choose (CRNA, NO, CNM, etc.). Typical courses may include:

• Population Health
• Fundamentals of Nursing Informatics
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Foundational Concepts and Applications
• Primary Care of the Childbearing Family Practice
• Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice
• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Physical Assessment
• Healthcare Policy

Advanced Research Methods – Evidence-Based Practice
It takes two to three years to complete an MSN degree, and students are required to complete several hundred clinical hours before passing a national certification exam.

Read Also

• How to Renew Nursing And Midwifery license In Nigeria
• Nurses Salary in Nigeria
• How to set up pharmacy business in Nigeria

IN CONCLUTION

We need a healthy lifestyle to build up a healthy immune system and to avoid disease, and its exist in the modern age as to a way to care for and to help people, and to maximize the way we treat people.