PHN...

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I'm looking for PHN positions and the only places I've been looking at is County websites... now who else hires PHN? Are PHN constraint to only working for the County???

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Lactation, Case Management.

The title "Public Health Nurse" is only used at government agencies; local, state or federal. The job might be the same, by the title differnt in a private sector job.

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such as...???

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Public health nurses usually work for the government. The term PHN means that your client is the public. You are there to prevent disease, promote health and educate the public. I don't know of any PHN's who work in the private sector unless they are working part time as a regular RN. As a PHN you are essentially working for the Public Health Department and usually positions are only posted in county or government websites.

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Thank you, Momnars18. Considering that, I guess the demand for PHN isn't very high... we probably have more PHN out there than we need... I mean, every BSN out there is technically PHN.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Lactation, Case Management.

No, technically they are not. If that were the case then ALL nurses would be public health nurses, not JUST BSN's. There is extra training that goes along with being a PHN. How do I know...I am a PHN II. I have been for almost 4 years now and I love it!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I mean, every BSN out there is technically PHN.

No. How do you figure? Taking a class in public health does not make one a public health nurse. Just like taking my psych nursing class in nursing school does not make me a psych nurse!

Are you interested in home health? A lot of public health nurses do home health visits, and there are plenty of private agencies that employ home health nurses.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Lactation, Case Management.

"Thank you, Momnars18. Considering that, I guess the demand for PHN isn't very high... we probably have more PHN out there than we need... I mean, every BSN out there is technically PHN."

No, technically they are not. If that were the case then ALL nurses would be public health nurses, not JUST BSN's. There is extra training that goes along with being a PHN. How do I know...I am a PHN II. I have been for almost 4 years now and I love it!

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

Check into IHS (Indian Health Services) they use Public Health Nurses.

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Most all BSN qualify for a PHN certification... isn't that PHN???

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Lactation, Case Management.

No, it still does not automatically make you a PHN. You also really need to stop only referring to BSN. There are LOTS of PHNs that are NOT BSNs. As a BSN you would still have to go through public health training once hired for a position. Besides, you have to work in a position for at least 2 years before being eligible to become "certified".

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What state are you from BrewerRN.... as far as I know, our BSN program qualifies us to recieve a PHN certification....

In addition, here in CA, the BRN states:

In addition, Section 2818 © states that no individual shall hold himself or herself out as a public

health nurse or use a title which includes the term “public health nurse” unless that individual is in

possession of a valid California public health nurse certificate issued pursuant to this article.

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