by triciaa99

Can any one offer any advice to a nurse going into public health nursing for the first time? What exactly are the various duties the nurses perform. Not totally clueless but just curious to know what to expect and what i may not know yet. Thanks.

Re: Public health nursing

Hey Girl!

I just entered PH after 4 years in the hospital setting. I think I have finally found my niche. Currently I am working up on a Native Reserve in Alberta and get to do it all. I do initial baby visits, prenatal classes, intakes, communicable dieases, immunisations and hopefully I will be specialising STI/HIV.... we might even start to do cerivcal screening, STI testing.

Driving around the reserves everyday and getting to know the community on a more therapeutic level has been so healthy for my career. I almost quit nuring in January - and then I decided to stay in this community and take on the role of a PHN.

I think it depends on where you work city vs. rural. Rural you will probably get to do more. However, in the city you each have an "area." One nurse will do prenatals or baby home visits or school teaching or STIs or Travel Clinic. I can't live without diversity. One thing that everyone at the hospial told me before I left for PH - "you'll find it SO boring." Not true - it's fascinating.

Be open minded, willing to learn and remember that people really put their trust into you. If you say you are going to do something for someone... DO IT.

Re: Public health nursing

Thanks, a lot camel, thats very encouraging. I am looking forward to starting soon. Everything else has been completed. I think like you i really enjoy been out in the community, and seeing different patients, i remember i had a really good experience with my community OB rotation, but coming out of nursing school everyone tells you to go for medsurg at for a year, but i find its not everyone that can handle it, and that makes you want to quit nursing totally without realizing that there are others areas of nursing you might actually enjoy and be happy going to work every morning because you really love what you do and the pay is not so bad. Thanks again or your input.