If you strive to serve others by educating the public and promoting community health initiatives, this could be the right path for you. The promotion of community wellness happens in many ways, starting with good nursing education.
As highly visible members of their communities, public health nurses often work in public spaces like schools, health departments, community health centers and correctional facilities. They can also work in private homes.
A public health nurse (PHN) is a nurse who focuses on promoting population health and community wellness. Crucial to the public health workforce, they use clinical knowledge to promote community wellness programs and meet the needs of vulnerable populations.
Public health nurses perform duties such as:
• Plan interventions that prevent illness, injury, and disability within their communities.
• Deploy public health resources to prevent diseases and injuries.
• Plan community health programs that promote wellness and educate the public.
• Evaluate the impact of community wellness programs on individuals and the general population.
• Recommend changes to community wellness programs to meet the needs of a changing population.
Clinical nurses focus on the health and well-being of individuals only. On the other hand, public health nurses focus on the well-being of the population at large. Where clinical nurses track individual patient charts, public health nurses analyze trends and data to determine the effectiveness of their programs. Clinical nurses develop treatment plans based on patient diagnosis, whereas public health nurses develop plans based on health trends in the population.
The professional focus of a PHN is on community wellness. As such, these nurses provide health leadership in a range of ways. Some public health nurses work on policy reform efforts and system changes to promote public wellness, while others design community wellness programs and monitor their effectiveness over time. Public health nurses do not always have individual patients to treat. Instead, they treat larger populations as a whole.
There are numerous ways in which public health nurses improve community wellness. The methods they use may vary depending on where they work. Community budgets and the community's relationship with public health are both factors that affect how public health nurses do their jobs.
Public health nurses promote illness and disease prevention using various methods. Some conduct public outreach and education to promote awareness of issues like nutrition and the role of healthy eating. These nurses offer evidence-based recommendations that help people in their community avoid diseases and illnesses.
Health disparities often occur because of social determinants — like the environments where people are born, plus where they live and work. Public health nurses play a vital role in community health by overcoming these disparities and bridging the gaps that occur as a result of these social determinants. PHNs assist community members in accessing programs that help them stay healthy.
Chronic diseases and complications like obesity can lead to lifelong ailments and low quality of life. While these issues affect people on an individual level, they also impact whole communities. Diseases and health problems cost communities money while reducing the population's work capacity. Public health nurses can reduce the burden of preventable and chronic diseases by helping members of the population avoid these problems.
PHNs support mental health and wellness initiatives by implementing and coordinating programs that help with stress management and provide counseling services to the population. PHNs may administer these programs themselves, or they may help connect members of the population with existing programs.
Chronic illnesses, diseases, and injuries tend to disproportionately affect people in underserved populations. Public health nurses address this by taking steps to increase access to healthcare in these populations. They can do this through awareness campaigns, meeting patients where they are, and serving as advocates for members of the population. In addition, PHNs may establish partnerships with programs that serve these populations to help connect members of the community with such programs.
Public health nursing is a unique profession because PHNs can have lasting effects on public health. One nurse can make a big difference for a large segment of the population. Educating members of the community and connecting them to programs that can help them, public health nurses effect lasting change.
Connecting members of the population to community health programs and wellness program initiatives can improve overall community health outcomes. These programs can have a trickle-down effect, influencing the health of entire families and future generations.
Healthcare is expensive, and diseases can be costly to treat. Public health nurses help reduce long-term healthcare costs for individuals and communities by promoting healthy eating and physical activity. By reducing spending on healthcare, PHNs free up public funds to be spent on other initiatives like education. In this way, they can impact the quality of life for populations at large.
How much a population knows about public health can influence the overall health of that community. Through teaching methods and best practices for staying healthy, public health nurses help communities enjoy a higher quality of life.
Public health nurses improve health literacy, too, which empowers individuals to take better care of themselves. Since individuals pass information to family members, friends, and their children, these health awareness campaigns can impact populations and help improve health outcomes for generations.
The job of a public health nurse is to create sustainable health initiatives. These can make lasting impacts within communities, even long after the nurse who started the program is no longer in their role. Successful programs can take on a life of their own and, in turn, help shape communities and have enduring effects on public health.
Public health nursing calls for innovating and creating programs that promote relevant public health initiatives.
PHNs work within public health systems to advocate for people who need more support to stay healthy. They help shape policies that can make a positive impact on the lives of children, adults, and seniors in underserved communities. They also help shape policies that affect every member of the community to create stronger public health systems.
Public health nurses assume an expanding role in preventative care around the country. Increasingly, communities rely on public health experts like PHNs to help prevent chronic illnesses and conditions that can lead to expensive medical care. This helps control medical costs in communities and can help members of the community lead more productive lives.
Do you want to become a public health nurse who develops and implements community wellness programs to help people thrive? At Nebraska Methodist College (NMC), we offer healthcare degrees for learners seeking a supportive environment and cutting-edge education. Learn more about the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Public Health Policy program at NMC, or apply now!