5 Places Where Public Health Nurses Work

Public health nurses (PHNs) work in a wide range of settings: a school nurse's office, a women's health clinic in an inner-city neighborhood, the aftermath of a major hurricane. They improve the health of whole communities, whether that means giving vaccines to dog sledders in rural Alaska or teaching recent immigrants how to find health resources in their new communities. Most work in underserved areas, delivering direct care and education to improve outcomes. Here are five of the places they work.

1. Community Clinics

Community health centers on the well-being of a specific population, combining health promotion with direct care. PHNs in these clinics serve people who otherwise couldn't access or afford care. They treat urgent illnesses, manage chronic conditions, deliver immunizations, provide preventive care, and teach health and wellness.

Education is central to the work. PHNs build programs around local issues like teen pregnancy, obesity, infectious disease, and substance use, offering counseling and screenings, distributing materials, and developing projects that support the community's health.

2. Government Agencies

Many PHNs work for government, from health departments and worksites to correctional facilities, and the roles vary widely. A PHN in a correctional facility may give direct patient care, while one in a health department may focus on advocacy or research. Government PHNs tackle widespread health problems, including disease outbreaks, by tracing the sources of health trends and developing the policies, education, and partnerships that improve outcomes.

In a government setting, you might:

• Manage grants for a state agency or the CDC
• Conduct epidemiological research on disease outbreaks
• Oversee public health emergency preparedness programs
• Develop immunization clinics in areas of need

The throughline is system-level policy reform aimed at better outcomes.

3. Outpatient Clinics

In many communities, outpatient clinics fill a gap for residents without access to a primary care practice or hospital. Some handle general minor illness, others focus on a specific need like women's health or substance use. PHNs here provide direct care and education. They might run a pregnancy or STI test or administer medication at an opioid treatment center. They also connect patients to resources, teaching young pregnant women how to care for themselves during pregnancy or covering breastfeeding, immunizations, and other topics.

4. School Systems

School nurses do far more than hand out first aid. They are trained public health professionals on the frontline of health promotion and illness prevention. Among their responsibilities, school PHNs:

• Teach children and families about hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention
• Oversee immunization programs and compliance
• Serve on the care team for children with chronic illnesses
• Shape system-wide health policy as it applies to schools
• Deliver health education on sexual health, substance use, mental health, and more
• Monitor at-risk children and respond as needed

The goal is to keep students healthy and safe so they can learn. The work also lays a foundation for lifelong health and gives many families the support they need.

5. Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofits focused on health, social justice, education, and women's issues hire PHNs to support their missions. From large institutions like the Red Cross to small population-focused groups, PHNs provide patient care, lead disaster relief and emergency response, deliver education, and contribute to policy and advocacy. The work might include:

• Writing proposals and grants
• Filling communication and outreach roles
• Coordinating development and fundraising
• Building education and outreach programs
• Conducting and analyzing research

Most nonprofits focus on a specific issue or population, such as securing healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community, which lets PHNs concentrate on work that matters to them.