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Overview:
Although treatment provided by community/public health nurses
may be to individual patients, families or groups, the focus
is on the population as a whole. Interaction may include epidemiology,
environmental health, wellness and health promotion, evaluation
of population-focused programs, or health maintenance.
Typical
venues: community-based settings, including ambulatory
clinics, health departments, schools, HMOs, visiting nurse
associations or camps.
Education:
active RN licensure
Certification
available: certification offered through:
American
Nurses Credentialing Center
600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 100 West
Washington, D.C. 20024-2571
(800) 284-2378
General
certification information, including links to FAQs
Specific
information about specialty certification
Specific
information about clinical nurse specialist certification
Job
outlook: Nursing as a whole will be one of the top 10
fastest growing professions in the United States in the next
decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Opportunities:
chance to be part of "the big picture," treating
patients within the context of the community as a whole; chance
to affect the health and well-being of an entire community
Challenges:
Because the focus is on the population as a whole, some individual
patients may be reluctant participants.
For
More Information:
American
Public Health Association
800 I St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 777-2742
Fax (202) 777-2534
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