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

anurseatlast · May 9, 2012

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.

Queen2u · May 9, 2012

WOAH!!! Sounds like something I am looking for!!!!!! How did you go about finding this job???!!!

exnavygirl-RN · May 12, 2012

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.

exnavygirl-RN · May 12, 2012

Depending on what state you live in, you can search for the state employee job website or just visit your nearest health department.

Queen2u · May 12, 2012

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!!!

danceluver · May 13, 2012

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?

exnavygirl-RN · May 19, 2012

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)

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?

PolecatEZ · Jun 23, 2012

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.

MandaRN94 · Jul 8, 2012

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..)

cdgoldilocks · Jul 26, 2012

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.

Moss1222 · Jul 27, 2012

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!