Which statement would best describe the difference between public health and community health nursing?

APNA is the peak body and professional membership association for all nurses working outside of a hospital setting in Australia—like the nurses who work in community health.

Nurses in community health provide an interpretative bridge between the acute sector and community services. They embrace a social model of health to advocate and give a voice to the community accessing care. In a system which is often complex and hard to navigate, nurses in community health are able to simplify the health systems, referral pathways, and access to care.

What’s it like being a primary health care nurse working in community health?

Community health nurses who are APNA members receive: up-to-date education and resources; the latest industry news and guidelines; communities, expert advice and support; and career tools and professional benefits. 

See the full range of APNA Member Benefits

Specific APNA member benefits for community health nurses

Online Education

Enrol in over 50 courses relevant for community health nurses, either FREE or discounted for members—including courses on The Official Aseptic Non-Touch Technique eLearning Course, Ulceration of the Lower Legs, Foundations of Wound Management, Using a Doppler to Calculate the ABPI & much more. 

Community and Networking

Connect with other community health nurses at networking events or via the APNA Online Community. After all, no one understands community health nurses better than a community health nurse.
 

Expert Support and Advice

Receive one-on-one support from experienced nurses on APNA’s Nurse Support Line. If you’re having trouble with a clinical issue, have a question about medication, or want to understand the career pathways for a community health nurse—we’re only a phone call away.

Educational Events - Workshops, Webinars and Conference

Learn, connect and re-energise alongside other community health nurses at the annual APNA Conference, with a variety of education sessions for community health nurses. Don't want to wait a year? We run a number of educational workshops and webinars throughout the year perfect for community health nurses.

News and Resources

New developments in community health? You'll be the first to know with an email alert sent straight to your inbox. Or you can stay up-to-date with clinical developments via our Nurse Know-How video series or the APNA Knowledge HUB.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Protect your livelihood and career. APNA has negotiated cost-effective Professional Indemnity Insurance for its members which covers community health nurses for anything within their scope of practice. 
 

See the full range of APNA Member Benefits

APNA Professional membership is only $25.50 per month for 12 months, or pay the year upfront.
Click here to view all membership types and more information.

With the help of Aspen University’s Dean of Nursing, Dr. Marcos Gayol, we break down the important differences between public health nurses vs community health nurses.

History of Public Health Nursing

Public health nursing began in the mid-1800s in England when Florence Nightingale trained nurses in the district nursing concept. Nurses were assigned and responsible for the health of the people in specific London neighborhoods. These nurses helped improve patient health by providing community channels and information on topics like sanitation and education.

This model of nursing popped up in the U.S. in New York City in 1877. Around this time, Lillian Wald — who coined the phrase “public health nurse” —  emerged as a leader in the field. She realized that sickness found in the home originated as societal problems and directed nursing efforts toward employment, sanitation, and education.

Ward served as the first president of the National Organization of Public Health Nurses, formed in 1912. In 1913, the first public health nurse for the U.S. Public Health Service was appointed. 

The United States has improved population health through public health intervention and quality clinical care. As a result, life expectancy rose to 78.8 in 2015, a decade longer than in 1950. However, racial, cultural, and economic disparities persist across many health outcomes and conditions. A lot of these challenges require community-based intervention. 

Different types of nurses help monitor and treat public health issues. “Think of a spectrum,” says Dr. Marcos Gayol, Assistant Dean of Nursing at Aspen University. “Directly in the middle of the spectrum is Public Health. On the one end is Community Health, and on the opposite end is Global Health.”

“Global Health is a broad focus on issues that can impact the health of a nation, economies, and the interconnectivity countries have with other countries.” Dr. Gayol adds, “However, the line between Community Health and Public Health is a source of confusion for many people. The two roles are often used interchangeably, but there are distinct differences.”

Public Health Nurse

The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines public health nursing as “the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences.” 

The public health nurse’s scope of practice includes policy reform, system-level changes, and health promotion. This nursing practice includes advocacy, policy development, and planning. Dr. Gayol adds, “It is the balance where health professionals work toward health promotion and illness prevention with a focus on identifying the origins of disease then determining how policy, education, and health systems can work together toward improved health outcomes.” 

For example, if an illness outbreak such as measles, tuberculosis, or hepatitis B occurs, the public health nurse will evaluate the need and develop a program for an immunization clinic. 

Public health nurses often work for the government — usually county though can be state or federal. They work in health departments, correctional facilities, worksites, and other locations where population-specific nursing care is in need. For example, they monitor for trends in disease outbreak and prevention, run flu clinics, and work to reduce illnesses like heart disease by providing education to their town.

Community Health Nurse

Community health nurses maximize the health status of individuals, families, groups, and the community through direct approach with them. A community health nurse combines facets of direct care and public health practice to a target population of patients who may not have access to — or be able to afford — health services. 

The community health nurse’s scope of practice includes educating and developing intervention plans for individuals, families, or groups about illness and disease prevention, safe health practices, nutrition, and wellness, among other topics. 

For example, a community health nurse might meet with young mothers to provide valuable immunization information or teach a new diabetic how to give insulin injections by practicing with an orange. 

Community health nurses work within the community. This can be for a public entity such as a school district or community clinic. The types of communities these nurses serve will vary; economic situation, school, and culture all play a part in dictating community needs. “What may be a health issue in downtown Atlanta, GA may not be a health issue in rural Tennessee – therefore Community Health is specific to a location, as well,” says Dr. Gayol. 

Many work in Community Health Centers. Similar to those who work in primary care offices, these nurses provide preventive care, immunizations, treat urgent illnesses, education, and medication refills — to name a few. Community nurses can also work for public health departments or parishes.

Specializations

Public health or community nurses may specialize in:

• Home care
• Case management
• Clinical nursing
• Corporate nursing – most often called Occupational Nursing
• School nursing
• Pharmaceutical nursing

Community health nurses might focus on a particular aspect of health care like HIV/AIDS or mental health treatment. Advanced community health nurses can also find opportunities in higher education or clinical research. 

Becoming a Public Health (or Community Health Nurse)

To become a public health or community health nurse, you first need to enter a Public Health education track toward that career goal. 

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is recommended for entry-level public health nurses. A BSN program covers fundamental concepts for public health nursing, such as “clinical prevention, population health, healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environments, and interpersonal collaboration.”

The Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization in public health or higher provides specialized knowledge required for leadership positions. “Competencies include mastery of interprofessional collaboration, health policy and advocacy, population assessment, prevention strategies, and program planning and evaluation.”

Some nurses pursue the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), PhD, or other researched-focused doctoral degrees. In some states, public health nursing registration is required to validate specific competencies. 

What Now?

The role of the public health nurse — and the ways they work to maintain healthy populations — has continued to evolve. Today, public health nurses “comprise the largest segment of the professional public health workforce.”

There is a call for public health to meet 21st-century challenges — such as rapid fluctuation in staffing and funding and America’s aging population. “In Public Health and Community Health Nursing, engagement, involvement, and education are the most important components for the success of a health program,” says Dr. Gayol. “A more educated society is a healthier society.”

UPDATE 3/23/2020

Public Health, Community Health, and Covid-19

While public health officials continue to monitor and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to understand each of our roles in helping to prevent the transmission of contagious illness. The Public Health Nurse (PHN) and the Community Health Nurse (CHN) play a vital role in educating populations about how viruses are spread, how to prevent the spread of viruses, and how to promote health within our society. The basis for practice of both the PHN and CHN is the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. In addition to population-specific nursing care, PHNs and CHNs have additional education and training in concepts of epidemiology, which is foundational knowledge of any public health professional. 

“In response to COVID-19, CHNs will be delivering health services, working to promote health and prevent illness in individuals, groups, and families,” says Dr. Gayol. “The main goal is to increase community awareness about routes of transmission and to educate communities based on recommendations from our national and state health authorities. Because community health nursing is encompassed within public health, PHNs may also provide direct care; however, the focus for PHNs is broader and extends to assessment, planning, and implementation of health interventions for entire populations.” 

Both CHNs and PHNs are on the front lines fighting against the COVID-19 public health emergency and serve as an essential part of the health of our local communities and beyond.

Aspen University offers online RN to BSN, specialized MSN, and DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs to help you become a public health or community health nurse.