If you already have your registered nurse (RN) license and have been thinking about going back to school to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), now could be a great time to get the ball rolling. In today’s dynamic healthcare field, the influence of BSN-prepared nurses continues to grow, particularly in the realm of public health. With their advanced training, BSN nurses can spearhead disease prevention initiatives while promoting community health and wellness.
Ready to make a difference in the lives of others? With a better understanding of the evolving role of BSN nurses in public health and disease prevention, you can determine whether this path may be right for you.
Why Public Health Needs BSN-Prepared Nurses Now More Than Ever
Nurses who have completed BSN degree programs tend to advance in the workforce with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to protect and promote public health. More specifically, public health nurses play a critical role in disease prevention and health education in the communities they serve.
Meeting the Demand for Preventive Care Providers
Disease prevention is a pillar of public health, with the United States Department of Health and Human Services spearheading initiatives to improve preventive health nationwide by 2030. Fortunately, BSN-educated nurses often possess the insight and experience to provide communities with the preventive health support and education necessary to prevent disease, while also improving long-term health and wellness.
How do public health nurses accomplish this? For starters, they disseminate critical health information to local populations, educating community members on preventive care measures and disease management. Likewise, public health nurses may participate in initiatives to provide free disease screenings, vaccinations, and other services, thereby protecting patients and helping them make more informed decisions about their own health and wellness.
Shifting from Acute to Community-Based Healthcare
As the national healthcare system continues to prioritize prevention over treatment, the demand for public health nursing professionals remains high. This includes the demand for nurses to fill roles as public health educators, nutritionists, community health workers, and even public health policy advocates. In many cases, BSN-educated nurses can fill these types of roles, applying the core competencies gained through their own experience in the field and as part of a career-focused BSN degree program.
How BSN Curriculum Aligns With Public Health Goals
How, exactly, can a BSN program prepare nurses for the demands of nursing in public health? The reality is that not all programs are created equal. However, those designed with the changing healthcare landscape in mind include coursework in relevant topics such as population health, epidemiology, public health policy, and leadership.
Population Health and Epidemiology Courses
Students in a BSN program may explore coursework in population health and epidemiology, both of which are critical to promoting public health in a community-based system. In these types of classes, students may learn how to conduct their own research and analyze raw data to gain valuable insights about population health, including social determinants of health and potential disparities.
Meanwhile, coursework in epidemiology can help nursing professionals better understand how diseases spread, as well as practical strategies for controlling or reducing the spread of certain diseases in their own communities.
Health Systems and Policy Education
Nurses working in public health must also possess a comprehensive understanding of current healthcare systems and structures, as well as the steps necessary to advocate for systemic change. Nurses with this type of knowledge and understanding may be better placed to advocate for the needs of their local communities while becoming active participants in the policymaking process.
With the proper education in this critical area of nursing, professionals can be empowered to conduct their own research, take a stance on policy decisions, and even participate in larger nursing organizations or efforts to influence policy for the benefit of their communities.
Leadership and Collaboration Skills
As part of a career-focused BSN curriculum, students will also develop core competencies that enable them to work effectively with others and make a meaningful impact in the public health sector. Some BSN courses may focus on developing leadership skills, which can be applied in the context of public health to lead special initiatives or programs aimed at preventing the spread of disease or promoting overall better health and wellness.
Likewise, being part of a BSN program can help nursing professionals enhance their own collaboration skills, which can then be applied in the field to coordinate more effectively and work across different agencies.
Core Responsibilities of BSN Nurses in Public Health
What does the role of public health nurses entail, anyway? While no two jobs are exactly alike, there are some common duties and responsibilities shared by those in this profession.
Health Promotion and Education
First and foremost, public health nurses share a crucial responsibility to educate their respective communities and populations about health and wellness initiatives. This may include leading classes and workshops on disease prevention, as well as offering community health screenings and teaching classes on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
In some cases, public health nurses may be directly responsible for designing and implementing community health programs. From creating and teaching classes to analyzing the success of community health initiatives, public health nurses are always seeking to educate their populations more effectively while improving access to healthcare for all.
Disease Prevention Initiatives
Public health nurses also tend to be the face of many disease prevention initiatives across the country and even across the globe. This was seen extensively, for example, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, public health nurses led free vaccination clinics, spread awareness about the benefits of wearing masks in public settings, and even held hand-washing demonstrations to reduce the spread of the virus.
Today, public health nurses continue to lead disease prevention initiatives, playing a critical role in keeping their communities safe and protecting vulnerable populations from serious illness.
Advocacy and Policy Development
In recent years, it has also become increasingly common to find public health nurses collaborating with policymakers to enhance community health outcomes. Nurses, for example, may lead initiatives to influence public health policy decisions at the local, state, or national level. Because they are familiar with their communities, they can effectively represent local populations while advocating to ensure that their patients’ voices are heard in policy decisions.
BSN Nurses in Action: Public Health Settings and Roles
Interested in working as a public health nurse? The possibilities for your future employment are expansive, allowing you to truly find your niche and explore a career where you can pursue your own unique interests and passions.
School and Occupational Health Nurses
Public health nurses often find themselves working in local schools or workplaces as a means of applying their experience and knowledge to benefit the community. School nurses, for instance, may provide important health education to students of all ages while caring for students when they are sick or injured at school.
Occupational nurses, on the other hand, focus on the health and well-being of employees in the workplace. In addition to providing care to patients with work-related injuries or illnesses, they may also be responsible for conducting safety and risk assessments, as well as implementing wellness programs for employees.
Community Outreach and Mobile Clinics
Public health nurses working in community outreach often engage directly with local populations to facilitate meaningful conversations about health and wellness. These nurses may lead workshops or teach classes on essential wellness topics, ranging from nutrition and diet to exercise and preventive care. Similarly, they may take part in mobile clinics and other local initiatives to provide free immunizations, health screenings, and other care directly to underserved populations.
Working With Local Health Departments
In some cases, public health nurses may work directly with local health departments to develop policies and other initiatives that protect population health. They may participate, for example, in community health assessments to identify local health trends or pinpoint specific risk factors. From there, they can work alongside local health department professionals to develop plans that aim to improve health outcomes for the communities they serve.
Partnering With Nonprofits and Faith-Based Organizations
Suppose you feel called to serve as a public health nurse in a nonprofit or faith-based organization. In that case, there are opportunities to tackle healthcare administration and other non-clinical roles. Even if you prefer to continue working in a clinical setting, you may be able to explore employment opportunities with faith-based hospitals or other clinics directly affiliated with nonprofits. This type of work can be a great way to make a lasting impact while staying fulfilled and engaged in the areas of healthcare that are most important to you.
Coordinating With Nutrition and Wellness Programs
It is not uncommon for public health nurses to work specifically with nutrition and wellness programs as a means of spreading awareness and promoting community health. Some public health nurses may participate in wellness programs by offering community health assessments or shaping policies that influence the types of food served to children in public schools.
Established programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often collaborate with public health nurses and other healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality nutrition and wellness education to eligible families and individuals. Working with these programs can be a great way to make a difference in populations that may otherwise be overlooked or underserved.
Explore Nevada State University’s RN to BSN Program
Whether you aspire to work as a school nurse, in community outreach, or even with your local health department, having your BSN can open up the doors for all kinds of exciting professional opportunities. With the rapidly growing role of nurses in public health, BSN-educated nurses can be prepared to meet the changing needs of the communities they serve.
Still looking for the BSN program that’s right for you? Suppose you already have an unencumbered RN license and an Associate degree from a nationally accredited institution of higher education. In that case, you may qualify for admission to Nevada State University’s RN to BSN online program.
This program, designed to be completed in as little as 12 months, offers both indirect and direct practice experiences to support educational mobility and develop leadership skills. Additionally, with its online format, this program is flexible enough for nursing professionals to accommodate into their already busy schedules. Reach out to our team to learn more about this program or get started by completing your online application for admission now.