How can I combine OBGYN nursing with Public Health Nursing as a career?

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by Queen2u, BSN, RN
  7,848 Views   19 Comments

  1. I am a mother baby nurse. I recall falling in love with public health nursing in nursing school. Does anyone out there know how the two can be combined? What would this job consist of? Is there anyone out there who is working in public health and concentrating in OBGYN nursing? If so, what does your job consist of? Thanks a lot!!!
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  2. 19 Comments

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  3. by anurseatlast
    May 9, '12
    I am a public health nurse in a community-based program that serves teen and young adults up to age 21 who are pregnant and/or parenting. We see the moms and children in their home (or other community site of her choice) from pregnancy (if we get the referral soon enough) until the baby is one year old or so. If the mom enrolls after the birth (the age of the mom qualifies her for the program; the age of the child is irrelevant so we get children up to age 5 or so), we see her for about a year. I teach how to have a healthy pregnancy, labor and birth, breastfeeding, infant care and development, how to be a nurturing parent, birth control, healthy relationship, a variety of health topics (today I taught nutrition to a mom who wants to lose weight), as well as encouraging them to stay in school, how to get a job ....... I often have the opportunity to teach the whole family about a variety of topics. I also teach in parenting classes at the public school a couple times a month. I absolutely LOVE my job! It is a challenge every day (aren't all nursing jobs???) and I never know what the day will bring. I have a lot of autonomy and work with a great team (which also includes social workers). I know what I do impacts the future of the mom and her child. I can't imagine doing anything else.
  4. by Queen2u
    May 9, '12
    WOAH!!! Sounds like something I am looking for!!!!!! How did you go about finding this job???!!!
  5. by exnavygirl-RN
    May 12, '12
    I work in public health as a child health nurse. We have a maternity nurse and a nurse that visits high risk mothers and infants. There are several options.
  6. by exnavygirl-RN
    May 12, '12
    Depending on what state you live in, you can search for the state employee job website or just visit your nearest health department.
  7. by Queen2u
    May 12, '12
    Thank you! I actually did some research a few days ago in the Internet and found lots of agencies that do home health with MCH and they all led me to the public health department. I went a few days ago to the department and got an overview of all the things they do there. So excited about the career change! Sounds like you have an awesome job! Thank you for all of your input!!!
  8. by danceluver
    May 13, '12
    I would be interested in learning more about this field and how to go about looking for jobs. Do NPs work in this capacity as well? What is the pay and hours like? Do you work with patients of all socio-economic levels?

    Do you have to be certified as a PHN to work in this field?
  9. by exnavygirl-RN
    May 18, '12
    In MS a nurse does not have to be PH certified. I don't know what other areas require. Look up your state's employee website or you can search usajobs.gov for federal positions. I'm a state employee but I have friends that are community health nurses working for federal agencies (ex: Indian Health Service)

    Quote from danceluver
    I would be interested in learning more about this field and how to go about looking for jobs. Do NPs work in this capacity as well? What is the pay and hours like? Do you work with patients of all socio-economic levels?

    Do you have to be certified as a PHN to work in this field?
  10. by PolecatEZ
    Jun 23, '12
    WIC, Planned Parenthood, and any local Community Health Centers are good choices for this. I'll be volunteering at all three as soon as my LPN license hurries up in the mail. CHC already has me on the list for their all-hands-on-deck immunization days which typically involve more kids than adults. Depending on state also, Planned Parenthood has much need for community health nurses for both clinical and travelling positions (about 30-40 open positions at all nursing levels) - cancer screenings, cervical biopsies and coloscopies, IUD placement, pregnancy testing, etc, and most patients have a string of kids following behind them just begging for their ear infections to be checked out and referred.
  11. by MandaRN94
    Jul 7, '12
    Look up Nurse Family Partnership Program, it is an evidenced-based public health program for pregnant 1st time mothers. RNs do home visits and follow the mother/baby through pregnancy and infancy. They are almost everywhere in the US. I did home visits for high risk pregnant teens, great experience but can be very draining emotionally (heroin addiction, domestic abuse, etc..)
  12. by cdgoldilocks
    Jul 25, '12
    Quote from MandaRN94
    Look up Nurse Family Partnership Program, it is an evidenced-based public health program for pregnant 1st time mothers. RNs do home visits and follow the mother/baby through pregnancy and infancy. They are almost everywhere in the US. I did home visits for high risk pregnant teens, great experience but can be very draining emotionally (heroin addiction, domestic abuse, etc..)
    I have worked for NFP for over 10 years. I love it. I love helping young mothers set goals and have success. I love prevention and health promotion.
  13. by Moss1222
    Jul 26, '12
    I work for the military as a Home Visitor with the New Parent Support Program. Check it out. All the branches
    of the military have this program (and each are a little different). I am a federal employee with great benefits and average RN pay. I LOVE my job going into homes of young families and providing education and support for pregnancy through age 5. My background is
    in pediatrics but some of my coworkers were prior nursery nurses and other disciplines. The flexibility and
    job satisfaction of developing relationships with these young families is priceless! There is a low turnover of these
    jobs because they are awesome!
  14. by passionflower
    Oct 2, '12
    Queen

    I also would like to combine labor and delivery with public health nursing. I am considering becoming certified as inpatient ob nurse so that i could get a step up on teaching some childbirth education classes. Ultimately I plan to return to school but can't decide if I should get a master's in public health or a master's in nursing with a community health specialty - the latter one is a much more difficult program to find! Especially one that is on-line and doesn't require me moving across state.

    Anything that would help me get into one of these positions would be key.

    Did you ever find a way? I would be happy to pm you the info I have as well.
    Last edit by passionflower on Oct 2, '12

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