PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

Job requirements:

A graduate from a four-year college or university with a Bachelor of

Science in Nursing which includes a Public Health Nursing rotation. Once you
have completed your degree, you have to pass the Nursing Licensure
Examination.

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of the application of nursing theory, practice, principles,

and techniques employed in the field of public health and related programs

2. Knowledge of principles and practices of public health

3. Knowledge of available resources and organizations and the ability to

coordinate these as needed

4. Knowledge of current social and economic problems relating to public

health, including health disparities

Skills:

1. Excellent communication skills

2. Good people skills in order to develop and sustain relationships

3. Problem-solving skill

4. An enthusiasm and genuine interest in health protection

Abilities:

1. Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in

appraising situations and making decisions

2. Ability to work in partnership with patients and with other service

providers to elicit needed information and to maintain effective working
relationships
 3. Ability to record accurately services rendered and to interpret and
explain records, reports, and medical instructions

4. Adequate computer skills to allow communication, patient record

documentation, and accessing of information.

Supervisory controls:

Work is reviewed periodically for adherence by the Municipal Health

Officer through review of written reports and oral conferences. As a Public
Health Nurse, we make more independent clinical decisions since we are the
front liner in the community. We decide whether a certain illness is treatable or
referral is needed.

Complexity:

Work requires a strong understanding of public health concepts, nursing

theory and practice.

Scope and effect:

They say a Hospital Nurse has a heavier responsibility than a Public

Health Nurse, but I believe we had the same responsibility at hand. While a
hospital nurse deal with a patient in crisis, a Public Health Nurse is the front-
liner in the medical field. We are the first person a patient talks to when they
first experience signs and symptoms of a disease and we decide whether to
treat it in the community or need further referral. We are also responsible in
health education so that every person in the community are empowered and
their health-seeking behaviours are uplifted.

I believe a Public Health Nurse's work and decision-making have a

substantial direct effect on the community served, especially since this nurse is
overseeing the work of others and may be the only health professional to come
in contact with clients in the field when providing advanced nursing services.

Teamwork requirements:

A Public Health Professionals cannot work in isolation and a Public

Health Nurse should know how to work in a team. It is practically impossible to
implement health programs independently. You collaborate with staff
members, other healthcare professionals, other departments, social health
workers and barangay officials for the success of that health program to be
implemented.

Personal contacts:

A Public Health Nurse has contact with a patient population in an

assigned area which might not be familiar with public health standards and
programs. Communication with patients must demonstrate sensitivity to the
persons culture, economic challenges, and other vulnerabilities, and must also
recognize each patients strengths and abilities. A Public Health Nurse works in
cooperation with the patient, patients family (particularly in homes, schools,
and other community settings) and other clinic staff to assess the patients
health status and needs and assist in providing the services needed in order to
maintain or improve their health. Patient education and counseling are
important components of this service delivery.

Work environment:

As a Public Health Nurse, we know we are periodically exposed to

hazards in the field (road settings, weather, clients). There is exposure to
bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, or angry or disruptive patients.
Sometimes, in the Rural Health Unit, it is often over-crowded and noisy
especially if Clinic Day and Dental Day are overlapped.