What is a Public Health Nurse?

Are you torn between joining the medical field or going into teaching? Well, luckily, there is a solution to please both the nurse and the teacher in you! If you want to educate the community and join the nursing field, Public Health Nursing could be just the occupation.

Public Health Nurses are registered nurses who aim to improve the health of the community as a whole. A Public Heath Nurse is dedicated to helping regular individuals and families improve their overall health status – usually through teaching classes in the community or the workplace.

The role of Public Health Nurses can be described as the first form of “prevention,” meaning that Public Health Nurses work hard to prevent injuries, disabilities, diseases, and premature death in the community. In many cases, Public Health Nurses stand on the front lines of preventing health problems in the community.

Public Health Nurses often partner with other health officials, such as nutritionists, physicians, environmental health specialists, and health educators. With these other public health officials, Public Health Nurses reach out to various parts of the community such as schools and workplaces to keep the public safe from health conditions and complications.

On average, a Public Health Nurses make around $51,000 a year. However, these salaries can vary based on location, experience, and benefits. In addition, Public Health Nurses are required to have a Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing with a certificate in Public Health Nursing.