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Discussion

Aspiring to be a PHN

Hey ya'll!

Just wanted to drop in write what's on my mind.

I'm a recent grad of Dec. 2010 and I've been working my first job on a post-op floor since May. As I've stated in my previous post, med-surg is not for me. I was never interested in working in any other area besides women's services, but I took the first job I was offered. And honestly, I'm miserable (& almost thought about getting out of nursing). It's hard to deal with all of the stress of working a hospital floor & being in an area that I have no desire for, plus adjusting as a new grad :(. I've been actively searching and applying for positions in L&D, post-partum, and nursery/NICU. I had a couple interviews but no luck yet. I figured this is God telling me that it's not time yet. Ok, off my soap box now... :oornt:

I sort of had a nursing epiphany a few days ago, and reading this forum just solidified my thoughs. I realized that I'm definately interested in public health nursing :idea:. I'm currently in the last semester of the RN-BSN program at my college and am taking the community health course. I only have one day of clinicals at an employee health fair for a complany...make me feel kinda of short-changed. Anyways, from reading these posts, I see that there is lots of teaching/education, autonomy, one-to-one interaction and other desirable aspects I like. I'd also like to work days and sure wouldn't mind having weekends and holidays off (I wouldn't even mind the pay cut) ;). I have always love the teaching aspect of nursing and would like to work with people on illness prevention/health maintainance (esp. with women/children). I want to be able to feel good about my work and feel like I'm truely being productive and making a difference.

So, I've been doing a little research around my area for a PHN job, but there seems to be a lack of opportunities. I live in a fairly small town outside of a small metropolitan area in the south, and I haven't been able to find a thing. I see some of these posts with people who work in maternal health/child health services and I'm just wondering how in the world can I find a job like that??? :confused: How were ya'll able to find those jobs? Do you think it would be helpful if I drop by my local health department and see if there are any positions available? I tried looking online locally, but it always directs me to the state website, which as I said doesn't have any openings. Any advice would be helpful! :)

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    PHN jobs are very difficult to get. Most nurses that work in Public health will stay with that job until retirement plus cut backs with state/county funding means less job openings. Your best bet is to look at PHN jobs in bigger cities -more opportunities. I love community health nursing -would NEVER go back to hospital nursing (and I worked for 10+ yrs in L&D).

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    I have been working in public health for a little over 4 years and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! I would NEVER go back to any other type of nursing unless forcefully dragged!!! PHN jobs are few and far between in rural NC, but in our larger areas there are a few. Good luck. I highly recommend this area of nursing!!

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    I am a Public Health Nurse in NC. I have been involved in Public Health for the past 20 years. I have worked in 3 different health departments all in different areas of NC. I have worked in almost every program a RN can work in. Presently, I am a certified STD Nurse Clinician trying to keep people well from communicable disease. I would not trade this experience for anything. Public Health is a calling. No nurse gets rich financially from working with local government, but the experiences of working with families, men, women, children in all stages of life, all stages of development and needs are priceless. Public Health is more than Immunizations and Comunicable Disease. It's working with people with chronic disease and preventing our younger generations from getting chronic diseases like HTN, diabetes,cancers, COPD, smoking related illnessess, obesity and related illnessess. It's pregnacy prevention and family planning and spacing. It's women's health and family health. Preventing infant mortality and preterm births to promote health pregnancy outcomes. It's helping developmentally challenged children to be all they can be. It's school health and case management adults, children, and pregnant women. Right now in the ecomnomic climate we live in both the State and the Counties are being encouraged to 'do more with less' so positions are difficult to come by in some areas. If you live near a military installation public health also exists on posts. If you are willing to relocate that might also open doors for you. Community Health also exists in home health and hospice. I remember like it was yesterday that feeling of putting square pegs in round holes when I worked in the hospital. Hang in there. Doors will open for you. Don't quit. Public Health and Community Health need nurses like you and with your background. You will be in my thoughts. I look forward to you joining our public health family.

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    Have you tried actually calling the boards of health in your area to ask about open position? I am interested in public health nursing as well but there are never any open positions on the county websites. I decided to call one of the county boards of health to day and low and behold there are 3 entry level nursing positions that are available but were not posted. The personnel lady I spoke to gave me all the info to apply and i'm in the process of completing an application now and hoping for the best. I'm gonna try calling other surrounding counties as well to inquire about openings.

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    • Author

    Thanks for the replies! I haven't had any luck yet, but I just got a new job on postpartum so I'll see how that goes for now, at least untill I can find a phn job. I haven't tried calling my local health department, but I'll def have to look into that!

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    Search all of your local county employment websites. I bookmark them on my computer, so everyday I can quickly take a look to see if any new jobs pop up. You may also want to try school district sites for school nursing. Just a thought.

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