How to Become a Public Health RN
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- What Is a Public Health Nurse?
- Steps to Become
- Education Options
- Licensure and Certification
- Employment
- FAQ
Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
Credit: kate_sept2004 / E+ / Getty ImagesPublic health might be your dream career if you enjoy solving complex problems, collaborating with others, and making a difference at the community level. A public health nurse (PHN) helps these efforts by focusing on the health challenges — and solutions — for entire populations.
As a PHN, you can improve people’s health on a large scale, especially under-resourced social groups. PHNs focus on preventative care and advocate for safe and healthy environments.
Learn how to become a PHN and their work in this guide.
How Long to Become
4 Years
Degree Required
BSN
Optional Certification
The National Board of Public Health Examiners
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Is a Public Health Nurse?
The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines public health nursing as “the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences.”
Sometimes known as community health nurses, PHNs identify and address health problems among various communities and populations. They also work in various settings, from community health centers to federal and international public health facilities.
Although specific roles and responsibilities vary, key duties often include:
- Delivering nursing care in health clinics, specifically administering immunizations
- Educating communities or groups of patients related to preventative care and wellness
- Helping design and deliver health promotion programs
- Collaborating with groups and organizations
- Creating training programs for other public health professionals
- Quality improvement
- Training for emergencies or public health crises
PHNs are also involved in policy and advocacy by connecting with local lawmakers and attending legislative meetings. They play an important role in addressing what are known as social determinants of health (SDOH) — everyday conditions such as transportation, housing, and employment that can affect a person’s overall health or access to care — and social justice issues. PHNs suggest and help create strategies and policies that address these issues.
Steps to Becoming a Public Health Nurse
- 1
Earn an ADN or a BSN Degree
An associate degree in nursing (ADN) and a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) prepare registered nurses (RNs) to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Nurses (NCLEX-RN), the national licensure examination for RNs.
ADN programs typically require two years to complete, while BSN programs take four years.
Many employers prefer a BSN degree for PHN roles. Students with an ADN can enroll in an RN-to-BSN bridge program, and those with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field can apply for an accelerated BSN program.
- 2
Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
All nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to qualify for a license to practice. In 2023, the Next Generation NCLEX exam was released, which focuses more on critical-thinking skills for new nurses.
- 3
Gain Experience in Public Health Nursing
Once a licensed RN, you can pursue an entry-level public health or community health nursing position at nonprofit organizations, hospitals, or health systems. Depending on your interests, you may want to work with particular populations, such as under-resourced communities, or in a particular specialty, such as behavioral or youth health.
Other ways to gain public health experience include working for federally qualified health centers or in rural communities.
- 4
Consider Becoming a Certified Public Health Nurse
Earning specialty board certification validates RNs’ knowledge and experience. The only accrediting body that certifies RNs for PHN status is the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE).
Before sitting for the NBPHE certification exam, PHN students must be deemed eligible by a school or training program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Public Health Nurse Education
A PHN legally needs only an ADN to become an RN, but many employers require a BSN. The APHA recommends a BSN for nurses wanting to go into public health.
Certification also requires at least a bachelor’s degree or, in some cases, a master of science in nursing (MSN).
A master’s in public health, a doctorate or a Ph.D. degree is not required to become a PHN. However, nurses with these advanced degrees can pursue careers as chief nursing officers or nurse leaders.
ADN Degree
An ADN degree takes two years to complete and typically requires a high school diploma or GED certificate for admission. Tuition is usually lower than a BSN and is the shortest and fastest path to licensure.
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate is required; some programs require a 2.0 or higher GPA
- Program Curriculum: Emphasis on practical nursing skills, less emphasis on theory and healthcare in general than for a BSN
- Time to Complete: Two years
- Skills Learned: Practical nursing skills, including patient care, conducting tests, collecting patient data, and patient safety
BSN Degree
A BSN is a four-year degree that covers more of the theory of healthcare and nursing than an ADN degree. A BSN provides a broader perspective that can be more valuable for public health RNs than an ADN. However, it is typically more expensive per credit hour and takes longer to complete.
- Admission Requirements: vary widely by school but typically include a 3.0 GPA and a high school diploma or GED certificate. More competitive schools may require a 3.25 or higher GPA and/or successful science and math coursework.
- Program Curriculum: Practical nursing skills, patient communication and education, an understanding of how the healthcare system works, and disease prevention.
- Time to Complete: Four years
- Skills Learned: Patient care and safety, infection control, communication and education, and basic health research.
MPH Degree
Although not required, a master’s of public health (MPH) prepares nurses for management or other advanced positions in public health. The curriculum includes advanced public health, public policy, epidemiology, and SDOH classes.
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and typically a 3.0 or higher GPA
- Program Curriculum: The social science of public health, including public policy, statistics and demographics, research methods, and applied behavioral sciences
- Time to Complete: Two to three years
- Skills Learned: Research, policy analysis, statistics, health informatics, and leadership
DNP Degree
The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree is not required to become a PHN, but a DNP track with a concentration in public health prepares advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) for important roles in public health, including leadership positions.
- Admission Requirements: Master’s degree and typically a 3.0 or higher GPA
- Program Curriculum: Health care policy and advocacy, nursing leadership, finance management, research methods, and data analysis
- Time to Complete: 2-3 years
- Skills Learned: Research, policy analysis, leadership, data collection, and analysis
PhD Degree
The Ph.D. in public health track often focuses on public health science and how to create and implement evidence-based practice protocols and procedures. While this step is not required to become a PHN, a PhD in public health can help learners prepare for in-depth and high-ranking positions in the field.
- Admission Requirements: Master’s degree and typically a 3.0 or higher GPA
- Program Curriculum: Health care policy and advocacy, nursing leadership, epidemiology, research methods, and ethics
- Time to Complete: 3-5 years
- Skills Learned: Research, nursing leadership, strategies on disease prevention and grant writing
Public Health Nurse Licensure and Certification
After graduating and passing the NCLEX, you can obtain your nursing license from your state board of nursing.
PHNs may choose to become board-certified public health (CPH) nurses. Obtaining certification demonstrates your expertise and credibility in public health. To become a CPH nurse, candidates must have either a BSN or MSN and five years of experience in public health (or a graduate degree and three years of experience). PHNs are certified by NBPHE or ANCC.
Although not required, certification demonstrates your knowledge of and commitment to public health, and many employers strongly prefer or require it.
Working as a Public Health Nurse
Working as a PHN offers many options and opportunities. PHNs can work in different specialties within the public health sector. They can focus on working with families, communities, or populations. They can also work globally by working with public health groups internationally.
Other options include:
- Government departments
- Hospitals
- Community centers
- Schools and universities
- Nonprofit organizations
- Occupational health programs
- Entrepreneurship
- Public health consulting groups
Many PHNs specialize in a particular facet of health, such as infectious disease control, access to healthcare, or behavioral health. Behavioral health includes mental health care or, specifically, opioid crisis response.
While individual salaries vary based on many factors, including job setting and geographic location, the average annual salary for a PHN is $78,437, according to ZipRecruiter,
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Public Health Nurse
Public health nurses help identify and address health challenges affecting entire communities and populations, especially under-resourced social groups. Their responsibilities include advocating for patients, administering immunizations, and educating communities or populations about preventative care.
Page last reviewed on July 30, 2024
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