What is a Public Health Nurse Practitioner? (Duties, Steps to Become, & Salary)


Written By: Pattie TrumblePattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. Read Full Bio »»
, MPP, MPH


Between 1920 and 2020, life expectancies for the average American roughly doubled. The primary instigator behind this startling statistic? Advances in public health—with public health nursing professionals on the front lines implementing the progress. What is a public health nurse practitioner? An advanced practice public health RN who helps communities make healthy lifestyle choices and responds when communities are hit with infectious disease outbreaks, other health crises, and disasters. PHNPs also collect data, monitoring health indicators like chronic disease metrics, immunization levels, and infant mortality statistics to evaluate existing health programs and plan new ones. Read this article to learn all about what it means to be a public health nurse practitioner – what do they do, steps-to-become, and salary.


What Does a Public Health Nurse Practitioner Do? – 6 Main Duties and Responsibilities


True, nurse practitioners mainly focus on delivering primary care, but there’s a definite overlap between primary care and community health since better access to primary care has benefits that improve the overall health of communities, such as more complete immunizations, better management of lifestyle factors that contribute to diseases, and earlier detection of chronic conditions. Indeed, you might describe public health nurse practitioners as primary healthcare providers for communities. Here are some things you’ll be able to do as a PHNP:

1. Provide clinical care: Public health nurse practitioners often work for community health clinics that deliver primary healthcare services to low-income patients or other vulnerable populations. Their responsibilities in this capacity include providing essential diagnostic services such as blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, administering immunizations, and treating superficial wounds and injuries.


2. Educate: PHNPs improve overall health literacy by educating patients on preventive care and the lifestyle alterations they must make to improve their health. PHNPs ensure patients know about the health-related programs and services available to them and help make it easier for them to utilize those services. Public Health NPs also educate other healthcare professionals on the systemic problems marginalized patient populations face that impact collective well-being.

3. Outreach: Public health nurse practitioners advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations to health planners and policymakers. They also support public health campaigns—for example, smoking cessation initiatives—that address health concerns that negatively impact communities.

4. Perform research: PH nurse practitioners assess and evaluate epidemiological and other health data to prioritize targeted interventions. Key sets of health data include infant mortality rates, immunization levels, environmentally caused illnesses, and chronic disease incidences. By monitoring and identifying these statistics, PHNPs can identify negative health trends and plan to mitigate them.

5. Build community partnerships: Public health NPs collaborate with other community leaders to help build sustainable programs that serve underprivileged populations.

6. Develop public policy: Public health nurse practitioners work with local, state, and federal health departments to help draft health policy, legislation, and long-range plans with specific, quantitative deliverables.


Where Do Public Health Nurse Practitioners Mostly Work? – Top 3 Work Settings


Public health nurse practitioners serve in many different capacities across a wide variety of settings, including:

1. Community health clinics: Public health nurse practitioners often use their APRN leadership training to take on executive roles in community health clinics and municipal and county health departments.

2. Government agencies: Public health nurse practitioners find employment in federal and international health agencies such as the World Health Organization, the National Institutes for Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as state and local health departments, where they participate in research, evaluate current health initiatives, and plan future health initiatives.

3. Nonprofits: When PHNPs are employed by nonprofit organizations, their work frequently involves conducting and analyzing research, coordinating fundraising, developing outreach programs, and writing grants.


What is the Typical Work Schedule And Work Hours of a Public Health NP?


Your practice setting will determine the schedule you work as a public health NP. Even public health nurse practitioners affiliated with hospitals that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, work traditional business hours. Public health nurse practitioners may work Saturdays if they work in a clinic or health department that’s open on Saturdays, but typically, they work 9 to 5, and they are not required to be on call.


What Education is Required to Become a Public Health Nurse Practitioner After High School?


Plan on spending four to nine years becoming a public health NP, depending upon which route you take. To become a nurse practitioner, you’ll need to graduate from either a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) program or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, and to enter these programs, you must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Completing a BSN takes between 36 and 48 months, while completing an MSN takes between 12 and 24 months. You’ll spend between 36 and 48 months earning your DNP.


How Long Does it Take to Become a Public Health NP After High School?


Program TypeProgram Length
BSN36 to 48 Months
BSN-to-MSN (NP)12 to 24 Months
BSN-to-DNP (NP)36 to 48 Months


How Much Does it Cost to Become a Public Health NP After High School?


Program TypeProgram Cost
BSN$8,730 - $219,450
BSN-to-MSN (NP)$20,740 - $201,980
BSN-to-DNP (NP)$28,390 - $277,320


What is the Step-By-Step Process of Becoming a Public Health Nurse Practitioner After High School?

(The following is a step-by-step process to become a Public Health NP after high school.)

Public health nurse practitioner programs do exist, but they are comparatively few in number, though classes in population health are part of nearly every nurse practitioner curriculum. Consequently, there are several different ways to become a public health nurse practitioner. Here are the most common:


STEP #1: Earn a nursing degree

All nurse practitioners must be registered nurses. You can become a registered nurse by graduating from either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a BSN program, but a BSN is more practical since all students pursuing graduate nursing degrees must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you do graduate from an ADN program, you will need to enroll in an RN-to-BSN program.


STEP #2: Pass the NCLEX-RN exam

You must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to qualify for state licensure.


STEP #3: Get a public health-related nursing job

Finding employment as a public health nurse is relatively easy, even without a BSN. This may be because RNs who work in community clinics earn significantly lower salaries than hospital RNs. Keep in mind, however, that the hiring process can be lengthy if you’re seeking employment in a government-operated clinic or agency.


STEP #4: Pursue public health-related continuing education credits

All states except Arizona, Connecticut, and Colorado have continuing education requirements for registered nurses, though those requirements vary from state to state. Choosing public-health-related CEUs can help keep you updated on the latest trends in population nursing. The CDC offers recertification credits for free, while the American Public Health Association (APHA) offers public health credits to members for free or at a highly discounted rate.


STEP #5: Earn CPH certification

Registered nurses with five or more years of professional public health experience are eligible to sit for the National Board of Public Health Examiners’ Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential.


STEP #6: Enroll in a nurse practitioner program

Educational programs specifically designed to graduate PHNPs are few; only 17 DNP programs offer a public health nurse practitioner specialty. However, you must earn an MSN or a DNP to become a nurse practitioner. Once you are an APRN, there are several ways to further hone your expertise in the field of public health nurse practice.


STEP #7: Post-master’s certificate in public health

Many nursing schools offer year-long post-master’s public health certificates in a variety of subspecialties such as generalist, biostatistics, international health, and healthcare administration. While you don’t need a certificate like this to become a public health nurse practitioner, the training you’ll receive will equip you with essential knowledge in core public health concepts that will enhance your job performance and make you more employable.


STEP #8: MPH

Many public health nurse practitioners also have master’s degrees in public health. In fact, a number of nursing schools offer concurrent MSN/MPH and DNP/MPH programs.


STEP #9: Join professional organizations

The American Public Health Association produces an annual conference attended by more than 12,000 public health professionals, where you will learn about the latest trends and innovations in the field. APHA is also a forum where you can share your views on policies affecting health issues nationwide. Perhaps most importantly, APHA offers networking opportunities that can help you connect with other PHNPs, mentors, and potential employers.


What are the Required or Recommended Certifications For Public Health Nurse Practitioners?


No certifications exist for public health nurse practitioners per se.


Are There any Fellowship or Residency Programs Available For Public Health Nurse Practitioners?


The American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers a Design, Evaluation, and Project Management fellowship in conjunction with the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (CDC.)

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) offers fellowships based in Washington, D.C., that focus on public health education, particularly as it can be used to help combat climate change. ASPPH also collaborates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a rural health fellowship program, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on an environmental health fellowship program, and with the CDC on fellowships in the areas of epidemiology, health communications, public policy, biostatistics, and informatics.


What is the Starting Salary of a New Grad Public Health Nurse Practitioner?


Entry-level public health nurse practitioners can look forward to earning $84,940 annually. This amounts to $40.84 an hour, $1,633 a week, or $7,080 a month.

Hourly$40.84
Weekly$1,633
Monthly$7,080
Annual$84,940


What is the Average Salary of a Public Health Nurse Practitioner?


The average public health nurse practitioner salary is $121,250, which breaks down to $58.29 an hour, $2,332 a week, or $10,100 a month. Public health nurse practitioners typically reach this benchmark during their 10th year of experience.

Hourly$58.29
Weekly$2,332
Monthly$10,100
Annual$121,250
(Source: Nursingprocess.org)


What is the Salary By Level of Experience of a Public Health NP?


The more experience a public health nurse practitioner has, the better able they are to leverage their knowledge of public health principles and practices on behalf of clients. Thus, on average, a PHNP with one to four years of experience earns $100,410 annually—18 percent more than a PHNP who is just starting ($84,940), while a PHNP with five to nine years of experience earns 29 percent more ($118,260.) Public health nurse practitioners with one to decades of professional experience earn 55 percent more ($131,740), and public health nurse practitioners with two or more decades of experience earn 89 percent more ($160,690.)

Level of ExperienceHourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Entry-Level$40.84$1,633$7,080$84,940
1-4 Years of Experience$48.27$1,931$8,370$100,410
5-9 Years of Experience$56.86$2,274$9,860$118,260
10-19 Years of Experience$63.34$2,533$10,980$131,740
20 Years or More Experience$77.25$3,090$13,390$160,690


What is the Average Salary of a Public Health NP by State?


StateHourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Alabama$49.85$1,994$8,640$103,680
Alaska$54.42$2,177$9,430$113,190
Arizona$56.76$2,271$9,840$118,070
Arkansas$50.08$2,003$8,680$104,160
California$73.93$2,957$12,820$153,780
Colorado$54.44$2,178$9,440$113,240
Connecticut$61.48$2,459$10,660$127,870
Delaware$56.37$2,255$9,770$117,250
Florida$51.58$2,063$8,940$107,280
Georgia$53.97$2,159$9,360$112,260
Hawaii$59.99$2,400$10,400$124,780
Idaho$55.04$2,202$9,540$114,480
Illinois$57.19$2,288$9,910$118,950
Indiana$56.91$2,277$9,870$118,380
Iowa$59.93$2,397$10,390$124,650
Kansas$52.21$2,088$9,050$108,600
Kentucky$51.10$2,044$8,860$106,280
Louisiana$55.27$2,211$9,580$114,960
Maine$55.31$2,213$9,590$115,050
Maryland$55.94$2,238$9,700$116,360
Massachusetts$64.85$2,594$11,240$134,880
Michigan$53.20$2,128$9,220$110,650
Minnesota$59.92$2,397$10,390$124,630
Mississippi$54.82$2,193$9,500$114,030
Missouri$52.92$2,117$9,170$110,070
Montana$56.09$2,243$9,720$116,660
Nebraska$55.63$2,225$9,640$115,700
Nevada$63.69$2,548$11,040$132,480
New Hampshire$58.81$2,352$10,190$122,320
New Jersey$66.98$2,679$11,610$139,310
New Mexico$60.58$2,423$10,500$126,000
New York$66.14$2,646$11,470$137,580
North Carolina$53.51$2,140$9,280$111,300
North Dakota$53.27$2,131$9,230$110,810
Ohio$54.91$2,196$9,520$114,210
Oklahoma$56.92$2,277$9,870$118,390
Oregon$63.70$2,548$11,040$132,500
Pennsylvania$56.36$2,254$9,770$117,230
Rhode Island$58.56$2,342$10,150$121,800
South Carolina$51.02$2,041$8,840$106,130
South Dakota$54.05$2,162$9,370$112,430
Tennessee$46.44$1,858$8,050$96,600
Texas$58.28$2,331$10,100$121,230
Utah$54.05$2,162$9,370$112,430
Vermont$54.52$2,181$9,450$113,400
Virginia$54.69$2,188$9,480$113,760
Washington$63.39$2,536$10,990$131,860
West Virginia$49.93$1,997$8,650$103,850
Wisconsin$56.67$2,267$9,820$117,880
Wyoming$53.88$2,155$9,340$112,060


What is the Job Outlook Like For This Career?


The COVID-19 pandemic proved the need for nurse practitioners who are well-versed in the principles of public health as well as primary care. Employment prospects for public health nurse practitioners are excellent and are projected to increase by 45 percent in the years between 2022 and 2032.

2022-32
+44.54%


Useful Organizations and Associations

1. Association of Public Health Nurses (APHN)

2. American Public Health Association (APHA)



My Final Thoughts


As a PHNP, you will be at the forefront of the effort to improve the health of communities. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the significant role the public health nurse practitioner plays in helping safeguard the public against collective threats such as infectious disease outbreaks. This article has presented an in-depth look at the public health nurse practitioner – what do they do, steps-to-become, and salary, to help you determine whether this nursing specialty might be the right choice for you. Checking out some public health volunteer opportunities at a hospital near you or another local healthcare provider is an excellent way to determine if you’re a good fit for this occupation.


Frequently Asked Questions Answered


1. On Average, How Much Does A Public Health NP Make Per Hour?

The average salary of a Public Health nurse practitioner per hour is $58.29.

$58.29


2. On Average, How Much Does A Public Health NP Make Per Week?

The average salary of a Public Health nurse practitioner per week is $2,332.

$2,332


3. On Average, How Much Does A Public Health NP Make Per Month?

The average salary of a Public Health nurse practitioner per month is $10,100.

$10,100


4. On Average, How Much Does A Public Health NP Make Per Year?

The average salary of a Public Health nurse practitioner per year is $121,250.

$121,250


List Of Sources Used For This Article


1. How Humanity Gave Itself an Extra Life: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/magazine/global-life-span.html
2. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners: Nurse Practitioners and Public Health: https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(22)00012-5/fulltext
3. Nursing Outlook: A critical gap: Advanced practice nurses focused on the public's health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8092811/
4. Evolving Public Health Nursing Roles: Focus on Community Participatory Health Promotion and Prevention: https://ojin.nursingworld.org/table-of-contents/volume-17-2012/number-2-may-2012/evolving-public-health-nursing-roles/
5. BMC Nursing: Factors influencing nurses participation in the health policy-making process: a systematic review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8273557/
6. Nursing Outlook: A critical gap: Advanced practice nurses focused on the public's health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8092811/
7. Nursing Continuing Education Requirements by State: https://www.aaaceus.com/state_nursing_requirements.asp#
8. AACN-CDC Public Health Fellowship Program: https://www.aacnnursing.org/our-initiatives/population-health-nursing/past-fellows
9. ASPPH Practice: FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS: https://aspph.org/our-work/practice/fellowships-internships/


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.