Public Health/Community Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialties CNS

Published

What type of roles do you have? Administrative, educator, or clinician? Thanks for sharing, there doesn't seem to be too many of us around. :)

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Again - no snark intended. But I would suggest that unless your activities are governed by the board of medicine in your state, you are not practicing medicine.

If you are governed by the board of nursing, you are practicing NURSING as an APN.

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Sycamorestudent -Think we got away from the original question. Let me rephrase, a CNS (in a majority of states is recognized as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). A RN with a MPH is not an APRN.

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Thanks Mary for the clarification in the matter.

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Sycamorestudent -Think we got away from the original question. Let me rephrase, a CNS (in a majority of states is recognized as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). A RN with a MPH is not an APRN.

I understand that in theory, But in practice does a Public Health CNS truly act as a APRN or are they in more of a change agent role? I'm really not familiar with the specialty at all. If it is the latter, i.e. not diagnosing or writing prescriptions, it seems a RN with a MPH could fill the role.

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I understand that in theory, But in practice does a Public Health CNS truly act as a APRN or are they in more of a change agent role? I'm really not familiar with the specialty at all. If it is the latter, i.e. not diagnosing or writing prescriptions, it seems a RN with a MPH could fill the role.

They can, depends on the job description of whichever employer is hiring. The good thing about the CNS role is that you can do either or. You are right if you are not wanting to do the APRN role then MPH would be ok. My wife is similar. She is doing her MHA, but I told her she should have done an Advanced Practice type schooling, that way she would have more options. We have a lot of APRN's in administrative roles at our hospital. However, if you are certain that the APRN role is not for you then MPH would be fine. Note as well, that I am an Adult acute and critical care CNS, verified through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, this covers a wide variety of patients, which provides more marketability. Overall, until all states are standardized, the CNS role will continue to confuse people. Hope this helps

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Hello bloggers,

You probably thought I died or something....no, just some life changing experiences! Thank you for the continued interest in APRNs. I am a PHCNS because I took the national certification exam and became licensed in my state as an APRN. My work has been public health clinic management and all that goes along with it....staffing, recruiting, training, protocols, patient education and case management, QA/QI, risk management, PCMH etc. After many years in PH I am moving to a new field----Psychiatric Nursing---as I work toward my PMHNP. I look forward to joining some new groups of currently practicing Psych RNs, CNSs, and NPs.

For anyone interested in PHCNS - they were removed as part of the changes with scope and practice. Any nurse can now take an Advanced Public Health Nurse certification, but a masters degree is not required and you can no longer become an APN in your state with it. Those of us who still exist under the old system are still APRNs as long as we maintain licensure requirements for our state.

I wish the best to you all on your nursing journeys!

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"What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hello bloggers,

You probably thought I died or something....no, just some life changing experiences! Thank you for the continued interest in APRNs. I am a PHCNS because I took the national certification exam and became licensed in my state as an APRN. My work has been public health clinic management and all that goes along with it....staffing, recruiting, training, protocols, patient education and case management, QA/QI, risk management, PCMH etc. After many years in PH I am moving to a new field----Psychiatric Nursing---as I work toward my PMHNP. I look forward to joining some new groups of currently practicing Psych RNs, CNSs, and NPs.

For anyone interested in PHCNS - they were removed as part of the changes with scope and practice. Any nurse can now take an Advanced Public Health Nurse certification, but a masters degree is not required and you can no longer become an APN in your state with it. Those of us who still exist under the old system are still APRNs as long as we maintain licensure requirements for our state.

I wish the best to you all on your nursing journeys!

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Specializes in Public Health, Maternal Child Health.

Lol I disagree - APRN can certainly practice medicine. Not all APRNs do... But ya they can!

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Specializes in Clinical Research/Community Health/Health Equity.

I know this is a little dated, but I am really interested in getting a graduate degree in community health nursing. Is there a difference in Advanced Population Health vs Advanced Public Health?

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I know this is a little dated, but I am really interested in getting a graduate degree in community health nursing. Is there a difference in Advanced Population Health vs Advanced Public Health?

I don't really have a good answer for your question, but it might be helpful to know that ANCC retired the APHN-BC board certification credential. Anyone who applied for it before October of last year I think has the option to still do the portfolio review to get the credential, but they are no longer taking new applications. You can only renew the credential if you already have it. That makes me bitter because I wanted it, but oh well. Hopefully my experience and education will speak for themselves when I look to move into more advanced roles in public health after my graduate degree is completed.

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Specializes in Clinical Research/Community Health/Health Equity.

Thank you or you insight! that's honestly shocking to me because I feel that there is an increased need for nurses with a focus in public health.

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There sure is. There are other public health certifications that someone can get (CPH, CHES, MCHES, etc) but that was the only nursing-specific one. Boooooo.

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