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What is a public health nurse and how to become one
Public health nurses are crucial to the overall health of entire communities. These professionals are registered nurses who push for positive health outcomes in communities. They provide education and counseling to the public via healthcare settings, community clinics, and outreaches. A public health nurse's goal is to ensure that people know how to stay healthy and safe.
A day in the life of a public health nurse may involve holding presentations about health, conducting assessments, gathering information on the knowledge level of people in a community, and collaborating with community healthcare providers. A public health nurse's job involves more education than actual medical care or treatment.
You can become a public health nurse by attending nursing school and getting a license to practice in your state. Next, a degree or additional qualifications in public health can help you develop the knowledge and skills you'll need.
What general advice would you give to a Public Health Nurse?
Sylvia Mayer
Associate Professor, Director of Admissions & Progressions for Nursing, Southern Adventist University
-Make sure the facility's Mission and Values align with yours
-Look for initiatives that support healthy work environments and professional development
-As a graduate nurse, look for facilities that offer formalized New RN residency and orientation programs and ask what the first-year activities include (training, workshops, mentoring)
-It is essential to ask about Covid-19 related care and employee policies
Avg. Salary $60,319
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 6%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%
Asian 8.93%
Black or African American 11.61%
Hispanic or Latino 8.95%
Unknown 4.26%
White 65.81%
Genderfemale 92.47%
male 7.53%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Public Health Nurse career paths
Key steps to become a public health nurse
Explore public health nurse education requirements
Start to develop specific public health nurse skills
Skills Percentages Community Health 9.84% Patients 9.16% Health Education 8.38% CPR 6.01% Communicable Diseases 5.40% Complete relevant public health nurse training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New public health nurses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a public health nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real public health nurse resumes.Gain additional public health nurse certifications
More About CertificationsPublic health nurse certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific public health nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for public health nurses include Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).
Research public health nurse duties and responsibilities
- Participate in manage care activities to produce health change, specifically providing diabetes education and lifestyle counseling in chronic disease areas.
- Assist in application of traction devices.perform routine tests such as urine dip stick, vision and hearing tests.
- Dispense medications and provide education for TB patients.
- Provide basic CPR classes at the community level as well.
Prepare your public health nurse resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your public health nurse resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a public health nurse resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Public Health Nurse Resume templates
Build a professional Public Health Nurse resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Public Health Nurse resume.
Apply for public health nurse jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a public health nurse job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Public Health Nurse Job
Are you a Public Health Nurse?
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Average public health nurse salary
The average Public Health Nurse salary in the United States is $60,319 per year or $29 per hour. Public health nurse salaries range between $42,000 and $84,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do public health nurses rate their job?
Public Health Nurse reviews
What is there not to like? It's such a rewarding job!
Far to many things to mention but to be on your feet for 12 hours plus a stressful environment the job should be double in salary especially they save lives just like a policeman or fireman ! I could go on and I am a mother of a nurse !!
Helping other people who can't help themself
Not teaming up because I trust team work is always the best to acquire knowledge and provide good result.
Updated January 8, 2025
