Public Health Nurse Job Description Template
The Public Health Nurse is responsible for providing direct patient care, health education, and community outreach to promote and maintain the health of the population. They work with individuals, families, and groups to assess needs, develop plans of care, and provide direct nursing services. The Public Health Nurse also serves as a resource to other health care providers and works collaboratively with other agencies to ensure that all members of the community have access to quality health care.
Public Health Nurse Job Responsibilities
- Promote and protect the health of populations through education and the provision of health services
- Conduct needs assessments to identify community health concerns
- Develop and implement community health education and promotion programs
- Advocate for public policy initiatives that support improved population health
- Collaborate with other healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community organizations to deliver comprehensive care
- Provide direct patient care in a variety of settings, including clinics, schools, homes, and workplaces
- Educate patients about disease prevention and healthy lifestyle choices
- Monitor individual and populationlevel health outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions
Objectives
- To promote and protect the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, public health, and other disciplines.
- To prevent disease, injury, and disability through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and surveillance for health problems in communities.
- To advocate for policies and practices that improve the health of populations.
- To provide direct care to individuals, families, and groups to assess their health needs and develop a plan to meet those needs.
- To collaborate with other professionals to plan and implement programs to improve the health of communities.
Public Health Nurse Job Skills & Qualifications Needed
- A public health nurse is a registered nurse who has specialized training in public health. They may have a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or doctorate in public health. In addition to their nursing skills, they should have strong communication and organizational skills. They should be able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and be comfortable working in a variety of settings.