by freedom=5/5/08

Hello,

I am a BSN student who gradsuates in May (hence, my screen name, lol) and I am interested in becoming a PHN. I need to know what steps/ specialty areas should I get under my belt before moving into the community? Also is a BSN enough education to become a PHN? Or would I have to to get my Masters? Also, what is the differnce between a PHN and a Public Health Nurse Speacialist?? Just wondering some new grad to be thoughts,

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Re: What steps do I need to take to become a PHN??

You need to check with the BON of whatever state you live in. Here in California, you need a BSN plus have taken certain classes and the application with the $75 A PHN Clinical Nurse Specialist usually is someone with a MSN who has taken classes for that specialty.

Re: What steps do I need to take to become a PHN??

Originally Posted by freedom=5/5/08

Hello,

I am a BSN student who gradsuates in May (hence, my screen name, lol) and I am interested in becoming a PHN. I need to know what steps/ specialty areas should I get under my belt before moving into the community? Also is a BSN enough education to become a PHN? Or would I have to to get my Masters? Also, what is the differnce between a PHN and a Public Health Nurse Speacialist?? Just wondering some new grad to be thoughts,

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I want to become a PHN too. But with all the budget cuts of late, there are hiring freezes all over. So don't cater your career to PH too closely. Do something you will be happy with until you can find a job in PH. That is why I chose Peds. Not only is a large majority of PH funding maternal and child related, but Peds is a great place to work. People are usually happier! Now I'm going to start home health. This will help me decide if I really like the world of community health, with all the LOADS of paperwork (which PH has a lot of too).

No, you do not need a masters, although it would make you more qualified. In terms of being a PH specialist, that might mean that instead of doing direct PH work, you might be advising other people on what the best way to do it is, like performance improvement, QI/QA, etc.

Re: What steps do I need to take to become a PHN??

Hello everyone. Ok, so I have a few questions. I am going about my nursing education/career in a very round-a-about way. Not sure if anyone has any answers. Ok, so I have my BA in obviously a non-nursing-related field. I am a current graduate of an LVN program waiting to take my NCLEX. My ultimate goal/desire is to become a Public Health Nurse and eventually, if I'm up to it, get my Masters in Public Health. Does anyone know the best way for me to do this? I mean, I plan to go back to school (community college) in a few years to get my 2 year RN degree. And then I'd want to get my certificate in Public Health. BUT, do I need a BSN if I will already be an RN with a Bachelors? (bachelors in a non-related field, mind you). I mean, I'll have all the "RN" knowledge, as well as the time/effort put towards a Bachelors degree. But I do not know the requirements for applying for a PHN program, nor do I know the length of those programs. Anyone have any info? I would go straight for the schooling/RN now if I had the energy, but I spent 5 years obtaining my bachelors, worked for 2 years, then just went back for an accelerated LVN program...needless to say I'm a little burnt out on school and want/need to work.

I'm thinking of working in a local clinic and volunteering with the county's health department for experience. I've already been working as a contractor with a health care staffing agency participating in health screenings at big local corporations (just taking BP's and providing health education...i'm not a license nurse YET) but I find it to be very fun. And a lot of the people I have worked with are agency nurses (LVN's and RN's).

Sorry for this being so long and all over the place......any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Re: What steps do I need to take to become a PHN??

Originally Posted by BA.LVN

Hello everyone. Ok, so I have a few questions. I am going about my nursing education/career in a very round-a-about way. Not sure if anyone has any answers. Ok, so I have my BA in obviously a non-nursing-related field. I am a current graduate of an LVN program waiting to take my NCLEX. My ultimate goal/desire is to become a Public Health Nurse and eventually, if I'm up to it, get my Masters in Public Health. Does anyone know the best way for me to do this? I mean, I plan to go back to school (community college) in a few years to get my 2 year RN degree. And then I'd want to get my certificate in Public Health. BUT, do I need a BSN if I will already be an RN with a Bachelors? (bachelors in a non-related field, mind you). I mean, I'll have all the "RN" knowledge, as well as the time/effort put towards a Bachelors degree. But I do not know the requirements for applying for a PHN program, nor do I know the length of those programs. Anyone have any info? I would go straight for the schooling/RN now if I had the energy, but I spent 5 years obtaining my bachelors, worked for 2 years, then just went back for an accelerated LVN program...needless to say I'm a little burnt out on school and want/need to work.

I'm thinking of working in a local clinic and volunteering with the county's health department for experience. I've already been working as a contractor with a health care staffing agency participating in health screenings at big local corporations (just taking BP's and providing health education...i'm not a license nurse YET) but I find it to be very fun. And a lot of the people I have worked with are agency nurses (LVN's and RN's).

Sorry for this being so long and all over the place......any advice would be greatly appreciated!

BSN curricula include specific content and clinicals in public health nursing, which ADN programs do not -- this is why the BSN is considered the minimum preparation/requirement for a PH position (and, no, an ADN with a BA in something entirely different is not the same thing). There are health departments that will hire ADN grads, but, in my experience, they're usually in rural areas where they are desperate for staff and will hire anyone with a pulse and a license ... Any health department that can afford to be the least bit picky will require BSN grads.

If you know that PH is your area of interest, you would be much better off continuing on into a BSN program rather than getting an ADN.

Best wishes!

Re: What steps do I need to take to become a PHN??

So not true, Local Health Dept hire ADN's all the time. I am a Public Health Nurse, and have been for 4 years now. I love it, and would never consider going to any other position. To help you in you quest as a PHN look into possible bachelors (non nursing) to BSN programs. There is one program here in Texas (probably more than one) that allows you to go from your bachelors to a BSN in 18 months.

Re: What steps do I need to take to become a PHN??

Originally Posted by BA.LVN

Hello everyone. Ok, so I have a few questions. I am going about my nursing education/career in a very round-a-about way. Not sure if anyone has any answers. Ok, so I have my BA in obviously a non-nursing-related field. I am a current graduate of an LVN program waiting to take my NCLEX. My ultimate goal/desire is to become a Public Health Nurse and eventually, if I'm up to it, get my Masters in Public Health. Does anyone know the best way for me to do this? I mean, I plan to go back to school (community college) in a few years to get my 2 year RN degree. And then I'd want to get my certificate in Public Health. BUT, do I need a BSN if I will already be an RN with a Bachelors? (bachelors in a non-related field, mind you). I mean, I'll have all the "RN" knowledge, as well as the time/effort put towards a Bachelors degree. But I do not know the requirements for applying for a PHN program, nor do I know the length of those programs. Anyone have any info? I would go straight for the schooling/RN now if I had the energy, but I spent 5 years obtaining my bachelors, worked for 2 years, then just went back for an accelerated LVN program...needless to say I'm a little burnt out on school and want/need to work.

I'm thinking of working in a local clinic and volunteering with the county's health department for experience. I've already been working as a contractor with a health care staffing agency participating in health screenings at big local corporations (just taking BP's and providing health education...i'm not a license nurse YET) but I find it to be very fun. And a lot of the people I have worked with are agency nurses (LVN's and RN's).

Sorry for this being so long and all over the place......any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Wow... good luck to you!!! You sound like such a motivated person. As someone posted.. check out other programs as well. I know that you need a break from school right now though. I don't know about where you are at but some schools offer 18 BSN in nursing if you already have a degree in something else (as you do). It would seem that this would save you a lot of time and $$$. If you did the LPN-RN bridge that would take 1 year. Then the RN-BSN would take another 2 years. TAke care.....

Re: What steps do I need to take to become a PHN??

Originally Posted by Itshamrtym

Wow... good luck to you!!! You sound like such a motivated person. As someone posted.. check out other programs as well. I know that you need a break from school right now though. I don't know about where you are at but some schools offer 18 BSN in nursing if you already have a degree in something else (as you do). It would seem that this would save you a lot of time and $$$. If you did the LPN-RN bridge that would take 1 year. Then the RN-BSN would take another 2 years. TAke care.....

Sorry I meant 18 months for BSN ..... Take care and good luck..........