hencyn57

26yrs experience. 51yo. Working public health- central FL (one of the lowest paying states)- county health department- doing QA and Nursing Education coordination- love the job!! :typing Making only $40,000/yr =~ $19.00/hr (pathetic if you ask me). I do not work weekends or holidays and work 7-4 M-F and my job is fairly low stress. I have very little client contact with this position. I give a few flu shots during Oct-Dec if the clinic sites need help. I am required to work in Special Needs Shelters in the event of a disaster (most common are hurricanes here). I left the health department after 5 yrs of service- following the 2004 horrific hurricane season to pursue better pay and search for a new niche. My background was psychiatry, substance abuse, pedi homecare, med surg, high risk pregnancy and case management. I had 5 jobs in the two years that I was gone- but found that healthcare was so stressful, with an unspoken requirement to give so much of yourself (work overtime- chart at home on unpaid time...etc) and so disorganized (the left hand never knowing what the right hand is doing in administration) or top priority being making money over patient needs.......... So I came back to public health and accept the low salary for the payoff of lower stress and job satisfaction.

Here in FL it used to be mandatory that you had a BSN to practice PHN through the Department of Health. I believe that due to the nursing shortages this has been somewhat relaxed and nuses are now hired with an ADN. You can use your ARNP or MPH degrees in the public health setting. In FL, you can get asssistance with schooling or get assistance with repaying your student loans. Maybe that is available where you live also. Best wishes with your studies and your future. I have worked in public health nursing for 6 yrs and love it. I had 18yrs of med surg, psych, substance abuse, peds and home care nursing prior to working in public health. I have a BSN degree. I am considering an MPH at age 50yo because it is so much easier now with many classes on-line.

Is it too late for you to use an interview now?