New grad RN, Advice in how to get into Public Health Nursing?

noahsmama · Dec 13, 2010

The way I did it was to find the website for every department of public health within a 1 hour driving radius of where I live -- this included state, county, and a few municipal DPHs. I then applied to every opening that ever appeared on any of their websites. Got four interviews (one as a new grad, one when I had about 6 months of experience -- I decided I didn't want that one after the interview and withdrew my name -- and two after I had a year or so of hospital experience under my belt), and one job.

For my current job, working with foster kids, they did prefer someone with some peds experience, but this could be fairly broadly defined -- although they preferred hospital experience, I think they might have taken someone who had worked only as a peds office nurse, or school nurse -- any nursing with kids.

We do have a couple of new grads working in our adult and aging division -- they're struggling though, and I do think that some kind of other experience working with your target population is best before jumping into public health. In your case, sounds like your experience might be useful to do what we call "in home support", where you help figure out what's needed so that disabled and/or elderly adults can remain in their homes with support, rather than being institutionalized.

Also be aware that in many states, you must have a BSN and have taken a community nursing class to get a PHN certificate. If you don't already have those, you might need to get them -- check the website for the BON in your state to find out.

If you did take community nursing in NS, contact your instructors from that course -- both the classroom instructor and your clinical instructor -- for their advice on how to get into PH nursing in your area.

Good luck!

PS -- I also found out about a few openings via Craig's List

decembergrad2011, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2010

http://www.usphs.gov/profession/nurse/

Check it out. If you want to work for the government, it's a good gig.

SDchick · Dec 14, 2010

Noahsmama: Thanks so much for all the helpful advice. I have my BSN and also have my Public Health Certificate. I've applied to volunteer at one my county Public Health Centers, so hopefully that will get me some exposure to the Public Health field and help me network as well. So you worked a year in acute care prior to landing your public health nurse job right? I'm trying my best to find an acute care hospital job but its really hard! I took the RN Rehab Nurse position, just to get some experience under my belt. I am hoping that SOME experience is better than none in this terrible economy! How do you like working with foster kids? Anyhow, I contacted my community professor and am scheduled to talk to her later today! Hope she can give me some helpful hints as well. Thanks again for your advice. I really appreciate it!!

Decembergrad2011: Thanks for the website! I never thought about joining the U.S. Public Health Commisioned Corps. I will definitely look into it! Are you in it or do you know anyone that is currently in it?

noahsmama · Dec 15, 2010

Volunteering is a great way to get to know a type of nursing better, to give you a better idea if you like it, and to get to know people who might be able to help you get a job in the field. I volunteered first (before nursing school) at the peds hospital where I eventually landed my first job, and I know this helped me get the job. I had been doing peds acute care for a little over a year at the time of my first interview for my current job. Because the wheels of bureaucracy grind slowly, I ended up working in acute care closer to 1.5 years before I was finally hired for the PH job.

Whether you really need acute care experience depends on the type of PH nursing you want to do -- for example, if you want to do mom/baby home visits, post partum or NICU experience can be very useful. But I'm sure you're right that any kind of nursing experience is better than none -- I do think the type of nursing you're doing now could definitely be applicable to some types of PH nursing.

I love working with foster kids! I have a strong preference to work with kids rather than adults, which is why I went into peds. I get to go out and play with kids in their home, assess their health and developmental status, and do caregiver education as needed. It's a great job!

I hope your community nursing professor gives you lots of great idea. Good luck!