MandaRN94

When in doubt let's blame the President!- Which has nothing to do with the overall problem I worked at a family planning organization that has the same issues as the post that is supported by Obama. We still had senior management making horrible staffing decisions and used "repositioning" to lay off seasoned staff. Unacceptable in any organization - and we would have also benefited from a union.

Same reason why I left my last job and accepted a job for a little less money but with a company that actually values its RNs and employees. Always seems like a no-brainer when a company has high turn-over rates due to poor job satisfaction yet senior management does NOTHING to solve the problem -they just keep cashing those huge paychecks and making poor decisions in their management bubble.

I just completed my MSN after being a RN BSN since 94. I do agree that working experience is important before starting a MSN program as it helps with assignments and papers to pull from past experience. I enjoyed my MSN program as I was able to minor in public health and took my last 4 classes in the school's MPH program. Find a MSN program that matches your interest. I have no interest in becoming a NP, hospital administrator, etc...

I have worked in a variety of PH settings. I did home visits for high risk maternal/child health pts and for the last 10 years work in a family planning clinic and now as a nurse supervisor after I received my MSN. The best part of PHN is the autonomy -you mostly work independently. It's one of the RN specialties that you truly can make a difference in someone's life.

Congrats Rizz! Welcome to public health nursing -you will LOVE it! And do not let any nurse tell you that it is not a "real" specialty or nursing job. I've heard this too many times from acute care hospital nurses.

I worked for my county public health dept and did home visits to high risk maternal/child pts. I basically did follow up for preemies, FTT kids, and LOTS of education for the parents.

I ended up in a MSN program that has a specialty option in public health. I think the DNP/MPH route would be great. I looked into the U of Minnesota DNP program that has a specialty online public health track and epi classes. Good luck!

Don't stress yet. It took 2 weeks to hear back and I got the job. The county works painfully slow in the hiring process. Good luck!

I have done volunteer nursing trips. I believe Project Helping Hands will take student nurses.

Depends on your specific job description. Are you going to work in all the depts? In CA RNs can dispense hormonal birth control under a standing order, order STD labs, etc.. This is my area of specialty and I love it! I get to work very independently.

There are lots of opportunities for PHN! What area interests you -OB/GYN, Pedi, chronic health, etc... There are PHN jobs available just by speciality. I work in a family planning and STD clinic. There are also job for Pedi PHN case managers to follow preemies once they get home, FTT babies, CPS cases. If women's health interests you some domestic violence shelters have clinics attached, preg teen programs for case management, NFP programs. Chronic health -community ed and case management for DM, hypertension, etc.. Really the sky's the limit!

Born and raised in California -SD is nice but way too conservative for me. I have always lived in Northern Ca and love it. Northern CA are Southern CA are VERY different. I have lived in Santa Cruz County and in Tuolumne County (close to Yosemite) and love the outdoorsy lifestyle. I personally like to visit SF but would never live there -not a city girl.

I agree Mariebailey. I also have recommended to friends/family the Gardasil series over Cervarix due to the broader coverage and had my daughter receive the Gardasil series -even though her Pedi was pushing Cervarix.

I am only really familiar with Gardasil as that is what we give at my clinic. It can be given as young as 9-11yrs male and female.

In CA you have to have a BSN and a PHN cert from the BON.

I don't really know why in this day and age schools still require these tests. What do they prove? I would think your GPA from your bachelors would be significant enough. I looked into many schools for my MSN and immediately passed on the ones that required GRE test scores.

Sorry. Keep looking -it will happen!

Still Love X-Files!

I can echo the same comments. I worked in L&D right after graduating from nursing school because I felt I needed the acute hospital experience. For the past 9 years I have been a PHN and LOVE it -would NEVER go back to hospital nursing. I am currently a RN manager for a public health/family planning clinic and finishing my Masters in Nursing with focus in PH. "Real" nurses don't just work in hospitals.

I understand the drive for advance practice as a nursing student but nothing beats experience in nursing. I agree with llg -get a job, explore different specialities then you can decide your long term goal. Good luck!

Look up basic principles of PH -what is epi, how does PH differ from the medical model, immunizations, STDs and communicable diseases like TB, etc.. What area of PH? Will you be working in a clinic or doing home visits? Look on your county website and be familiar with your county programs. Good luck!

Look into the University of Minnesota they have a BSN -DNP program online that has a public health nursing track. I was looking into this program also but the post MSN track. I believe U Mass has a DNP -PHN leadership track also. Good luck!

Which school are you attending? I agree with you -go for the general public health.

There a lot of different opportunities for PHN -I personally have done home visits for high risk maternal/child pts and worked in a family planning clinic/ STD clinic. I currently am a PHN manager at the clinic. If you look under your county website under public health there are also lists of PHN jobs available, CDC website, etc..

It depends what you want to do. If you want to work as a NP then I recommend FNP as there are more job opportunities with this specialty. If you want to work specifically as PHN then a MPH or MSN with focus in public health (what I did) is what I recommend.