Got the Job!!! (Health Dept.)

Specialties Public/Community

Published

So I'm floating on cloud 9 bc I was offered the position for the job I really wanted. I was surprised they offered me the job so quickly. There is still a lengthy process to go through, but overall I'm excited and ready to move on to something else. I am taking a significant pay cut, but the benefits and perks of the job outweigh the hourly salary.

Can anyone that works for the health department expand on the job itself, benefits, and overall atmosphere. I've only read good reviews as compared to typical floor nursing that I'm currently doing. I'm very excited, comments, experiences, and opinions are all welcomed.

Thanks in advance :)

Lucky U ;) I can't wait until my 6 months r up, its so far away for right now I willl b glad when my 90 days hit :) they really make u wait, but its soooooooooo worth it in the end. I just thank God everyday for taking me out of the hospital, I really felt robbed and taken advantage of once I saw how nurses r supposed to get treated. The hospital benefits and work env r beyond terrible. Then the whole cancellation policies r a load of crap, this is the only full-time career Ive ever heard of where u weren't guaranteed ur hours. There r ppl @ my job that take months off when they want with no hassle/ blackout days. They get the time they want when they want with no worries about leaving their teammates short staffed. They really pride themselves on the team approach and allow the nurses to control their job. PHN ROCKS!!!

0 Votes

This is my second month working at the health department and I LOVE IT!!! I was working on the WIC/Nutrition Education the first month. Right now, I'm learning the Hypertension/Diabetes program. Which is basically a joint managed program(MD & PH nurse)..... We talk about their diagnosis, assess, educate and issue their medications.... The autonomy almost makes me feel like a NP.... Next up are STDs and family planning!!!

0 Votes

Man, am I jealous!! I'm currently doing psych/dev. disabled nursing. I just graduated with my BSN this month (RN-BSN program and I have a BA in Sociology) just so that I could do public health nursing. This is why I became a nurse. Never wanted to do hospital nursing. May I ask, what states are you all in? I moved from CA to TX just to get into a nursing program and am now having the hardest time finding any public health programs (TX in not very social service friendly at all!). With all the county budget cuts, it just seems almost impossible to find anything so in the meanwhile, I'm going to get my MPH.

0 Votes

This is the thread to read for me!! Congrats btw on your new job! I too was offered a RN position working with high risks pregnancies that not only have medical problems but social problems as well... :nurse:

I currently work in the hospital but its understaffed and never got my full orientation, so needless to say it has left a somewhat bad taste in my mouth.. I am so looking forward to helping these moms who are need..

All my friends keep telling me "this is what you've always wanted to do, help the community" yayy.. but i have to be honest I am nervous and I pray that its what I think it is.. and that I find it gratifying..:D

I always thought I was going to retire from a hospital setting, so thats why I am very nervous.. :uhoh3:

0 Votes
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

i just wanted to pop-in to congratulate all of you for landing public health nursing jobs and loving what you do!!! i went into nursing because of my former co-workers who are public health nurses. keep up the good work! :up:

0 Votes

Thrilled that I found this thread. I'm interviewing for a Health Department position this week.

0 Votes

Congrats on the job! Reaffirmed my interest in Public Health. There is an opening for on call Public Health Nurse in my area, and I am going to go for it.

Thanks

0 Votes

Thank to all those posting in this section!

I've been working med-surg in a hospital for a year now (since graduation) and have moments where I love my job but if I want to finish on-time, I have to cut out the majority of patient care and teaching. Unfortunately, as the hospital continues to cut ancillary staffing to bare bones, I have become more and more dissatisfied. At the same time, management constantly talks about HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) and how we must improve patient care. ???? Their actions on staffing are counter-productive to this goal!

I long for a job where I can actually take the time to care for my patients and provide teaching. When I do provide teaching to my current patients, they always say that I was the first who explained a procedure/intervention/care etc. in a way that they could understand it. I love teaching and know it is my calling.

The posts about Public Health nursing sound like a position I would enjoy. But in this job market, I'm afraid that if I give up my current position for a more specialized field and not like it, I may have difficulty getting back in. I am 53.

Any comments from those of you who crossed over would be appreciated.

Thanks,

More to learn

0 Votes
Specializes in Quality Nurse Specialist, Health Coach.

Congrats! I've been at the health department since October last year and love it. I work with the Nurse Family Partnership. I work with low income, first time mothers from pregnancy until their children are age 2. I did a internship in public health when I was a student and loved it. I had graduated 2 years prior to finding this position at our local health department, I was excited to find an opening when I did! I don't miss working holidays, nights, or weekends! :yeah:

0 Votes

I love love love my job at the health department. :loveya:

0 Votes
Specializes in LTC, Float Pool, Ortho, Telemetry.

Whew!! Please say a prayer for me! I have an interview on April 13th with my local County Health Department and am excited and nervous! I worked in the hospital environment for 14 years and have been in the LTC setting the last year. Public Health is what made me want to be a Nurse to begin with and at the age of 42, I am so excited for the opportunity for the interview and am praying I am what they are looking for. I definitely have all of the experience in all of the skills that Nurses do and one of my passions as a Nurse is actually being able to teach patients and their family members about their illness, injury or disease process. I hope they find I am a good fit. All prayers and advice accepted!!:yeah:

0 Votes

I hope you like PH. It's not for everyone, and yes it will take you a year to be competent. There is a lot to learn, especially if you are going to be cross trained. But if you grow to love it, you will stick with it. Remember the community is your patient, and the tasks you do in the clinical setting matter to the larger picture.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment