Public Health Nursing & You
Within the universe of nursing, Public Health is its own world. Opportunities are vast within this nursing specialty. Even school nurses are considered public health nurses. This specialization encompasses departments of health, correctional facilities, clinics, research, grants, think tanks, state/local/federal governments, schools, CDC, epidemiology, emergency preparedness, immunizations, community programs and health centers… the list of possibilities is endless.
All public health jobs do have similarities. They all want to improve the health and well-being of their population/community whether at the local, state, or federal level. Nurses serve vital roles in all aspects of this endeavor. After all, it is part of our Nurse’s Creed.
If hospital nursing isn’t your niche, despite the many different areas of practice, perhaps public health nursing is.
I have worked in public health for years now, and I am still learning new things we do. As each state’s Department of Health (DOH) varies greatly in what services they provide, I will focus on my experience within the state of New Mexico. Here are some of the services provided by the NMDOH (but not limited to the below):
Children's Medical Services:
(CMS) - provides services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disabling conditions in children all over New Mexico. Children from birth to 21 with chronic illnesses or medical conditions that require surgical or medical treatment. CMS offers medical services through multidisciplinary pediatric specialty clinics, private providers and public agencies. Diagnostic medical services, information and referral, case management and pre-school developmental evaluations are also available, regardless of income.
Family Planning
Harm Reduction: Reduce substance-related harm
Health Promotion: Provides population health expertise and support at the local level
Immunizations: Goal is to ensure all New Mexicans are properly immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases
Tuberculosis: Case management, Education and Training, Surveillance, and Prevention
Women, Infants and Children (WIC): (nmwic.org)
Vital Records & Epidemiology and Surveillance:
Tracks infectious diseases, injury and health statistics, trains organizations in disease control, injury prevention, responds to public health emergencies and provides vital records services (such as birth and death certificates).
Refugee Health:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (testing and treatment with partner services) & Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis:
Primary goal the reduction and prevention of the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infection. provides statewide consultation and technical assistance, partner services, screening, surveillance, health care provider education, case management, and partner notification for reportable STDs in the state
STD (ex: Hepatitis, Syphilis, HIV…) (counseling and testing or immunization if at risk)
Notifiable: Chancroid, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis; All STD cases diagnosed or treated in New Mexico are required by law to be reported to the STD Program in Santa Fe by using the nmhealth.org/publication/view/form/1594/
Hepatitis(counseling and testing or immunization if at risk)
Breast & Cervical Cancer (screenings)
ECECD Families FIRST (Early Childhood Education & Care Department) Families FIRST:
Number one goal is to strengthen families – programs include mental health, parenting education, teen pregnancy, adoption support services and other resources
Southwest Pathways:
Medication Assistance Treatment to individuals who desire to take control of their opioid use disorder by providing overdose prevention education, opiate replacement therapy with buprenorphine, harm reduction services including Narcan training and distribution
The above list is not exhaustive as public health nursing touches so many different areas of health and wellness. You can work in the Developmental Disabilities Program, the Office of School and Adolescent Health, Public Education Department, Epidemiology and Response Division… the list could continue to infinity and beyond. Ok, maybe not to infinity. But, you get my point. The opportunities within public health are sizable. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Public Health Nursing may be the place you find your nursing niche.
