How To Become A Nurse Who Specializes In Public Health Nursing

Public health nurses provide nursing services to communities of people rather than individual patients

. Public health nursing services include assessing communities and the environment for health problems and providing education about healthy lifestyles and the prevention of illness. Qualified nurses can become certified in the area of public health.

American Nurses Credentialing Center, or ANCC

American Nurses Credentialing Center provides certification in many nursing specialties, and in public health nursing as well. Renewal for this certification is every five years after passing an exam.

If you are a member of certain professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association you can receive discounts on the cost of the exam to become certified in public health nursing. As of Aug 2010 the fee ranged from $270-390 for this computer based examination.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center has 3 options for public health nursing.

Option A

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

Option B

If you have a bachelor or master's degree in public health nursing, you can apply for an APHN - BC certification. Many colleges offer a master's degree for public health.

Option C

Registered nurses with graduate degrees in nursing or 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 public health nursing. If nurses hold a graduate degree in something other than nursing, they must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Need for Certification

The public health nursing credential is voluntary of course, but if you want to further you chances of a career in public health nursing you would be wise to get this certification. Salaries reflect advanced certification completion as well. This particular certification shows that you as a nurse have mastered the knowledge needed to be effective in public health.

by:Steven Swihart

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