What is Community and Public Health Nursing Nursing?
A Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN), if you are a registered nurse looking to improve your career, is a good option. An Public Health Nursing Nursing MSN can lead to advancement in many areas of nursing including clinical specialist roles and leadership opportunities in research, education, management, and health policy. One of the most exciting options is to become a leader in community or public health nursing.
The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 was published by the National Academy of Medicine. It focuses on three areas of health that the Academy believes should be prioritized in the United States during this decade. These three areas include creating a culture that promotes health, reducing disparities in health and improving the overall health of the country. The study acknowledges that it would be wrong to ignore the rapid and lasting impact COVID-19 had on the health of American communities in 2020. This new mindset should be embraced by nursing’s future. RNs who are looking for new opportunities will be fortunate to find support that supports a continued focus on community health. Leaders are needed to help strengthen the community partnerships and public programs that were established during the pandemic.
The United States’ public and community health nursing are based on the principle that everyone should have access to health services. In this beautifully sourced report by the American Public Health Association, the American Public Health Association describes public health nursing as “public health nurses provide leadership in emerging advances in population and health care, particularly in terms addressing health inequities.” You might wonder, however, what is the best way for a public health nurse to satisfy all inequities? How can they reach everyone? This is a challenging and big question that sparks discussion about access.
Community health nurses are responsible for providing healthcare access to those who are economically, geographically or physically disadvantaged. These populations may not be able to access a major hospital, but they likely have access at least one of these community institutions:
Health centers for the community
- Schools
- Correctional facilities
- Religious institutions
- Federal, county, and state departments of health
- Non-government aid organisations
One of these institutions may have a community health nurse. A quick look at the Association of Public Health Nurses job board will show you open positions in government facilities, local health departments, and visiting nurse services.
Due to the pandemic, it is possible that the public may be more familiar with the role of a community- and public health nurse than in previous years. The community leaders are more open to the work of a community nurse, which is crucial for any community health project’s groundbreaking steps. This groundwork is known as a community health assessment (CHA) according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This systemic approach is used to identify key areas of population need. A CHA might ask, “What health need is being addressed?” This could include STD prevention, nutrition education or a smoking cessation program. The second question, which is more difficult, asks “What resources are available, what will it take, and how can they be obtained?” This could include community partnerships or budgetary funds that might result in charitable donations or other cost-sharing. Every point of analysis should also ask, “What unique sensitivities do this community have?” This will influence the delivery of community health nurse programs. Community and public health nurses must understand that the potential for success in launching programs for any population is built on answers to these questions. Each community must have its own health program.
Both classroom learning and hands-on experience from their MSN program are important for community and public health nurses. An MSN program that offers real-life experience is likely to lead to higher salaries and greater responsibilities. Many public health nurses are able to balance their priorities by choosing a career-focused curriculum and a flexible program. It is smart to work while you study towards a MSN. This has many long-term advantages. You can be confident in your financial future by continuing to make money and investing in an education at a competitive tuition rate (compared with CT-area private non-profit colleges).
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