Public Health Degree Overview

A public health nursing degree prepares nurses to address a broad range of health needs of a population. According to the American Public Health Association, the focus is on the community instead of an individual client and nursing interventions are based on the needs of the community with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion.Public health nursing is a blend of the art of nursing and the science of public health. Although education requirements vary widely across the United States, most jurisdictions require a bachelor's degree in nursing, while others accept a hospital diploma or associate degree from a community college. A bachelor's degree in nursing is considered a minimum requirement for public health nursing practice by many nursing professionals and professional nursing organizations. A bachelor's degree in nursing is thought to provide the background in social science and public health science such as epidemiology and environmental health that a public health nurse needs.

If you are interested in pursing a public health degree, take the first step by requesting more information today.

Public Health Nursing Careers

Nurses in this field work in government and private agencies, clinics, and other private settings. They focus on populations, working with individuals, groups, and families to improve the overall health of communities. They educate about health care issues, disease prevention, nutrition, and childcare, and also work with community leaders, teachers, parents, and physicians in community health education.The exciting thing about a career in public health nursing is that every day is different. A public health nurse might vaccinate preschoolers against childhood diseases, screen senior citizens for hypertension, and audit immunization records in local schools. Some public health nurses also visit homebound residents to administer flu shots and monitor medications. Another responsibility that a public health nurse might need to investigate is communicable diseases. It is the public health nurses' responsibility to conduct local investigations on reportable diseases. Once the disease is identified, nurses work to limit an outbreak, identify the source, and educate patients about treatment and prevention. Public health care nursing can be a demanding job but it is a rewarding career that serves the betterment of the community.

Work Environment for Public Nurses

Public health nursing is a rewarding and professionally satisfying career. This career choice offers nurses a variety of practice areas that are flexible, team oriented, and focused on the care of individuals and populations. Public health nurses are found in a variety of settings, including schools and the workplace. Public health nurses who assist workers at the job site are called occupational health nurses. Some nurses work in local government health departments as general practice nurses in neighborhoods.

The challenge for public health nurses in the future will be to continue to apply the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation of interventions) to improve health, not just of individuals, but also with larger segments of the population in partnership with the community.

If you are interested in working with the community and enjoy the nursing field, learn more about how a degree in public health nursing is the right career choice for you.

public health masters | public health education | public health | master in public health | public health courses | school of public health | public health bachelors | public health school | public health graduate programs | public health careers | public health major | public health salary | public health nursingpublic health career | public health universities | degree in public health online | degrees in public health | master degree in public health | public health degree university | public health degrees | public health graduate degree