How to get phn?
All TBSN, ABSN and RN-BSN Graduates ONLY
Students are encouraged to apply for their California Public Health Nurse Certificate just as soon as you have graduated with your BSN degree and have received your RN license. This is a lifetime certificate and you will be eligible to apply for this certificate just as soon as you have received your permanent RN license number. The BSN program at CSUSM covers the required content to receive the Public Health Nursing Certificate.
Students will be completing the Public Health Nurse Certificate application process on their own after they have graduated with their BSN degree and obtained their RN license number.
Refer to attached link for information: Public Health Nurse
Application for Public Health Nurse Certification is a three-step process.
All TBSN, ABSN, & RN-BSN Graduates will need to request an additional copy of your official CSUSM transcript. The BRN will no longer have access to your transcripts once they issue your RN license since they send completed files to their storage facility. Thus, they need an additional transcript to process your PHN Certificate.
Student will complete and mail in the below form to the BRN:
Note: Use of the online process for applying for PHN certification and fee payment still requires completion of steps 2 and 3 as stated below.
Mail the BRN REQUEST FOR TRANSCRIPT PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE CERTIFICATION form to the CSU, Chico School of Nursing using the following contact/address information. Once complete, the School of Nursing will forward your form to the BRN Advanced Practice Unit to be matched with your official transcript.
Order an official transcript from the Student Records and Registration Office Transcript Request page to be sent to the BRN PHN unit.
Note: New grads from either the basic BSN or RN-BSN program must wait until transcripts include all completed course work and reflect the nursing degree awarded and date conferred.
- Attend an accredited nursing program.
- Study and pass the NCLEX-RN exam.
- Gain experience in nursing.
- Obtain certification as a certified public health nurse.
- Get continuing education and training.
Public health nursing promotes and protects community health using knowledge from nursing, social and public health sciences, according to the American Public Health Association.
Public health nurses perform a vital role, especially among the most vulnerable in society, due to their frequent contact with them. These special nurses are community advocates, educators and providers of critical public health services. They focus more on long-term healthcare and safety.
Read on to find out what public health nurses do, common steps for how to become one, how much they earn and more.
Public health nurses play key roles in preventing disease while promoting public safety and well-being. They promote better health and safety in communities and help prepare them for and recover from public health incidents, such as natural disasters and disease outbreaks.
Most public health nurses serve specific roles while helping their communities:
There are several steps to become a public health nurse. Students usually start by pursuing a nursing degree, and move on into a public health nursing specialty.
Here are common steps to become a public health nurse.
Students should seek out a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Attending an accredited nursing program allows students to:
Degrees to pursue a career as a public health nurse include an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
The National Council Licensure Exam-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN), developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, is a standardized exam that tests you on the practical application and analysis of everything you’ve learned at nursing school. It helps determine whether you have the knowledge and skills to work in the field of nursing.
After getting a license, it is recommended that nurses gain at least two years of experience before beginning the process of becoming a public health nurse.
There is one general public health nurse certification for nurses just obtaining licensure. The Certified in Public Health designation is available through the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
To be eligible for a CPH, these criteria must be met:
Find out about CEPH-accredited master’s in public health online programs and other certifications in public health education and physical activity.
Continuing education and training are recommended for all public health nurses. This ensures that nurses are well-versed in new studies, innovation and ideas within healthcare and public health. This is also a good way for nurses to open up new career opportunities.
All nurses with a CPH certification must report at least 50 recertification credits every two years. Extensions are available in three-month increments.
Another way to gain more knowledge is with a Master of Public Health-Master of Science in Nursing dual degree. Find out more about obtaining an MPH-MSN degree.
Because public health nurses focus more on entire communities than individuals, they work in a variety of public settings. Here are five places public health nurses might work and their responsibilities:
Public health nurses work closely with the community in clinics, dealing with a variety of health concerns. Because of these experiences, they will be on the front line in developing educational programs to teach the community how to improve overall health. This advice can be individual-based or community-based.
County, state or national health departments rely on public health nurses. They will focus on policy development to improve the overall health of entire populations. These positions often focus on administration and paperwork and less on individual patients.
People often go to outpatient clinics with health concerns. While public health nurses can address their immediate concerns, send out for tests and perhaps even prescribe medication, they can also take a leadership role in public health education.
Public health nurses will help children and their parents address issues in schools. They will help educate children how to maintain their own health and prevent illness, plus address personal hygiene, sexual health and other issues. These nurses will also monitor at-risk children, watching for signs of abuse or neglect.
Numerous organizations help deliver health solutions to those in need with the aid of public health nurses. These groups include Doctors Without Borders, the Peace Corps and the Red Cross. Among the duties of public health nurses are disaster relief, drinking water safety, education, family planning, hygiene, sexual health and more.
Public health nurse salaries can vary by location and experience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t keep numbers on the public health nurse specialty, but registered nurses earned an average of $73,300 a year as of May 2019. These were the average salaries in the top fields:
Public health nurse job availability varies by location. For all registered nurses, employment is expected to grow by 7% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. The top five states for registered nurse jobs are:
Learn about the differences between a public health specialist and a public health nurse.
Public health nurses can perform many of the job functions of public health specialists. Perhaps the biggest difference is that nurses have the educational background and clinical experience to be able to provide care to patients. Public health nurses may focus on treating a group of people, whereas other types of nurses treat individuals.
Some entry-level public health nursing roles may only require a BSN, but those who want to become a public health nurse must be registered nurses. Given the leadership that is often required in this position, having an MSN is recommended.
Public health specialists are focused on improving health outcomes through research, education and prevention. This can include areas such as environmental health, disease etiology, occupational health, nutrition and more.
A public health specialist may have these job responsibilities, depending on their role:
While a public health specialist may design and develop interventions, a public health nurse may help to carry out the interventions, especially if they involve administering care.
Those considering a career in public health nursing have some common questions. Here are five frequently asked questions and the answers.
