Become A Public Health Registered Nurse   by Steven

As opposed to individual nursing, the public health nurse assesses entire communities. They take such things as the environment into account in looking for potential problems to the communities' health. They will then educate the public on issues such as living healthier lifestyles, and avoiding injury and illness. To take part in public health nursing you need to become certified.

American Credentialing Center, or ANCC

The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certification in a number of specialties, and they offer public nursing certification for qualified nurses. They must pass an exam in order to receive certification and must renew their certification every five years.

This computer based exam costs between $270 - $390 as of August 2010. If you are a member of certain nursing organizations such as the American Nurse Association (ANA) or the American Public Health Association you can receive discounts towards the certification test for public health nursing.

The ANCC offers three options for those that wish to become certified in public healthcare.

Option A

RN's with graduate degrees in public or community health nursing can apply for the Advanced Public Nurse - Board Certified (APHN-BC) credential. As a clinical specialist you have the option to receive your Public/Community Health Clinical Specialist - Board Certified, or (PHCNS-BC) certification.

Option B

RN's with bachelor's degrees in the public nursing and master's degrees in public health can apply for the APHN-BC credential. A number of universities offer master's degrees in public health.

Option C

RNs with graduate degrees in a related field can apply for the APHN-BC credential provided they have completed at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience in the field of health. If they hold a graduate degree in something other than nursing, they must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Need for Certification

Public health nursing certification is voluntary, not mandatory. Certified nurses may find it easier to find jobs in public health than those without certification, however, and may earn higher salaries. Certification demonstrates that nurses have certain levels of education and that they have mastered specific knowledge in the field of health.

They will then educate the public on issues such as living healthier lifestyles, and avoiding injury and illness. They take such things as the environment into account in looking for potential problems to the communities' health.