Health Dept. pay and work enviroment

BrewerRN · Nov 28, 2011

Not sure what area of the country you are in, but that sounds about right. I am in rural NC and I am making a little more. I am a PHN II with almost 5 years experience though. I love public health. The cut in pay was well worth it. Less stress and better hours.

MandaRN94 · Nov 30, 2011

Ouch -$17 an hr? I was hired at my as PHN II and started at $37 but this is in California. I still cannot imagine $17/hr for any RN job in the US.

Marshall1 · Nov 30, 2011

Yes, $17..a little over 36K/yr for FT...I think this is why they advertise fairly often for the position...I think nurses get into it thinking it will be better than whatever else they are doing but find once federal and state taxes are taken out plus the location that it's not worth it. I called and canceled the interview..the $ was part of it but also, I know NOTHING about babies/children/pregnancy etc. and this is the main area it seemed like they were looking for someone.

MandaRN94 · Nov 30, 2011

Keep in mind PH is also TB clinics, STDs, HIV testing, chronic illness. It's not just maternal/child health unless that is the position. I love PHN and the hours but I made 17/hr as a nursing assistant

katkonk, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2011

I've been contacted to interview for a health dept. FT RN position...it's M-F with one day being a little longer and Fri. being the shorter day...the hourly rate is a little over $17/hr...I knew health dept. paid less than hospitals but did not realize it was this much less...I know there is no call, weekends or holidays but other than immunizations I am not really sure what the job will entail..and it sounds like there is a possibility of working surrounding county clinics - which is ok.......from reading other posts it sounds like a lot of time is spent w/pregnancy, lactation, children and babies...then STD clinics...is this close?

Sometimes, if you know where to look, public health nurse positions are found disguised as other things. For instance, there is a posting right now for an "occupational health nurse" at Fort Hood in Texas. But reading the job posting, it says working with STD's/HIV, etc. This is really public health territory, and I think it is only listed as occupational health because you are taking care of the "employees" which of course is the military personnel. If you investigate the federal job ads, you may find a PHN job you like with much better pay. Good luck.

pir8 · Feb 13, 2014

what part of nc?

Mia415 · Mar 23, 2014

I'm always curious to find out what happened after these really old posts - so did you get/take the job?

Lucky724 · Mar 23, 2014

posted wrong place

Marshall1 · Mar 23, 2014

No, I did not accept it - the pay was too low given the hours/benefits that were offered. The pay has not changed since my original post and the position is still advertised every few months along w/2 other health dept's in adjoining counties..and the pay is the same as my original post in 2011. They can't keep nurses in these position because of the pay - even with the hours. Seems to me if they raised the pay -even to the mid- 40's - it would save the time/money from having advertise/train and replace nurses every few months. The head of the health dept knows it's the money but says her hands are tied because the state has to approve the pay increase and won't.

Mia415 · Mar 23, 2014

Thats tough. It's crazy how pay varies from state to state, and from county to county. In Northern California I started at $38/hr (plus full benefits) as a new grad PHN, but at the same time my friend started as a new grad in a NICU at 63/hr but as per Diem without any benefits. Don't know how cost of living is where u r but here I pay $1600/ month for a 1 bedroom apartment and 3.90 per gallon of gas. Anyways, good luck in all your future endeavors!

rotteluvr31, ADN, RN · Mar 24, 2014

Although that is a really low pay rate, it's not the only place where RN's are poorly paid. Clinic nurses for a large health care provider in WI were being offered $17.00/hr a couple of years ago. I made more in an LTC as an LPN.

It's too bad the pay is low, as you mention, the position doesn't get filled, and the cost to continually train staff is probably more than increasing the hourly compensation. And the people who are supposed to be served, aren't.