Certification in Public Health Nursing
American Nurses Credentialing Center
The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certification in a number of nursing specialties, and they offer certification in public health for qualified nurses. Nurses must pass an exam in order to received certification and must renew their certification every five years. The exam is computer-based, so nurses can test at any time and from any location. The cost to take the exam ranges from $270 to $390 as of March 2010, with discounts available to nurses that are members of the American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association, or National Association of Clinic Nurse Specialists.
The ANCC offers three options for nurses that wish to become certified in public health.
Option A
Registered nurses with graduate degrees in public or community health nursing can apply for the Advanced Public Health Nurse - Board Certified (APHN-BC) credential. Clinical nurse specialists have the option of applying for the Public/Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist - Board Certified (PHCNS-BC) credential.
Option B
Registered nurses with bachelor's degrees in the science of nursing and master's degrees in public health can apply for the APHN-BC credential. A number of universities offer master's degrees in public health.
Option C
Registered nurses with graduate degrees in nursing or a related field can apply for the APHN-BC credential provided they have completed at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience in the field of public health nursing. If nurses hold a graduate degree in something other than nursing, they must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Need for Certification
Public health nursing certification is voluntary, not mandatory. Certified nurses may find it easier to find jobs in public health than those without certification, however, and may earn higher salaries. Certification demonstrates that nurses have certain levels of education and that they have mastered specific knowledge in the field of public health.
Sources:
Florida Dept. of Health. http://www.doh.state.fl.us/PHNursing/Library/PHN_Scope.PDF. Scope and Standards of Public Health Nursing Practice.
American Nurses Credentialing Center. http://www.nursecredentialing.org/Eligibility/AdvPublicHealthNurseEligibility.aspx. Public Health Nurse.
Published by Kelly Morris
I am a former social worker and in that capacity, worked with teens and their families to address issues like domestic violence and school violence. I now make my living as a freelance writer. My work has... View profile
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