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Now’s the best time to consider public health nursing certifications for students. Starting early means getting a head start in your nursing career. Being a public health nurse with these certifications brings many benefits.

  • High demand for registered nurses in general. Projected job growth for registered nurses is 6% (2023-2033) or 194,500 openings/year, on average.
  • Competitive salary. Public health nurses have an estimated total pay of $103,443/year, on average.
  • Strong job satisfaction. Public health nurses have a positive impact on community health.

What is public health nursing in the first place? Public health health nursing focuses on improving population health.


Why is public health nursing crucial in healthcare?

  • Promotes healthy lifestyles and behaviors among community members
  • Prevents the spread of infectious diseases
  • Decreases the incidence of chronic health issues
  • Improves healthcare access to underserved communities

Earning public health nursing certifications for students builds your expertise in:

  • Community health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health policy

Registered nurses with expertise in these critical areas are in high demand.

If you’re interested in public health nursing certifications for students, read on. We’ll discuss the best certifications and how to earn them.

Related:

Why Public Health Certifications Matter for Nursing Students

Earning public health certifications as a nursing student has its challenges. You must manage your time and workload. Then, you should consider the costs of certification training and exams.

But when you do a cost-benefit analysis, the benefits outweigh the costs.

How Certifications Improve Knowledge in Disease Prevention, Policy, and Community Health

The best benefit is that certifications improve your knowledge of:

  • Disease prevention strategies, such as screenings, vaccinations, and education
  • Public health policies, laws, and regulations
  • Community health best practices, such as resource management and cultural competence

Benefits for Career Advancement and Specialization in Public Health Nursing

Your more in-depth understanding of these areas is your competitive edge. In turn, you’ll enjoy these career-related benefits.

  • Expand your job opportunities. You can apply to government agencies and nonprofits involved in public health.
  • Make a smooth transition into specialized public health roles. Your choices include healthcare policy and epidemiology.
  • Earn higher salaries from leadership roles in public health nursing.

Certification also boosts your professional credibility and commitment to excellence.

Growing Demand for Public Health Nurses Due to Global Health Challenges

We’ve seen global health crises changing our world. Public health nurses are in high demand because of them. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing health threats are examples.

Other reasons for the growing demand are population aging and global health diplomacy. There’s also more focus on preventative care and health equity.

Top Public Health Certifications for Nursing Students

We chose the best certifications for nursing students in public health based on the following: 

  • Accreditation and quality
  • Relevance to current public health trends
  • Career advancement opportunities
  • Specialization options

Certified in Public Health (CPH) – Eligibility for Future Nurses

This isn’t among the entry-level nursing student public health credentials. But it’s a credential you should consider as a future public health nurse. You’ll learn key concepts in:

  • Epidemiology
  • Health policy
  • Social determinants of health

The CPH credential is open to students in public health programs. Apply for it with the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE).

Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification

This is an entry-level community health nursing certification suitable for nursing students. Community health workers usually work in public health settings. Their key skills are necessary for working with at-risk and underserved populations.

The CHW training focuses on:

  • Patient advocacy
  • Community outreach
  • Preventive healthcare
  • Health education
  • Healthcare support

If you want to serve in underserved communities, go for it. Apply for it through state health departments and public health organizations.

Global Health Certificate

Are you interested in global health nursing, disaster relief, or humanitarian work? If yes, you should consider earning a global health nursing certification. Think of it, too, if you want to work with Doctors Without Borders, WHO, and other similar organizations.

You’ll gain insights into international healthcare systems and infectious diseases. This is a high-impact certification, indeed. Apply for it through online public health programs.

Epidemiology Certification for Nurses

The CDC and APHA offer epidemiology certification for nursing students. If you’re interested in a research or epidemiology career, go for it.

The certification program introduces nursing students to the following:

  • Disease tracking
  • Outbreak investigation
  • Biostatistics

As a nurse who specializes in epidemiology, you’ll find jobs in diverse places. Public health agencies, research institutions, and health departments are examples.

Health Promotion and Wellness Certification

This is a type of population health nursing certification because of its focus on:

  • Preventive care
  • Health and nutrition
  • Health education strategies
  • Chronic disease management
  • Behavioral health

So, if you want to pursue community-based healthcare roles, earn this one, too. Examples include community health nurses and public health nurse educators.

This is available through institutions like the National Wellness Institute.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Certification

This is essential for students interested in disease prevention in healthcare settings. The IPC certification is also relevant because of the global health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic, ebola outbreak, and HIV/AIDS crisis are relevant examples.

You’ll learn about hospital infection control, hygiene practices, and outbreak response. With your skills, you can work in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

The Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC) administers it.

Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Certification

Red Cross, FEMA, and public health agencies offer this certification. Students train in disaster preparedness and emergency response, including:

  • Crisis management
  • Disaster triage
  • Emergency planning
  • First aid and CPR
  • Incident command systems (ICS)

If you want to be in disaster relief and emergency efforts, put it on your list.

Public Health Policy and Advocacy Certification

This is among the must-have public health policy certifications for nurses because it:

  • Provides you with foundational knowledge on health policies, advocacy, and legislation
  • Enables you to influence healthcare reform and advocate for policy changes
  • Develops your skills in effective collaboration and lobbying for reforms

This is available through institutions like the American Public Health Association (APHA).

Environmental Health Certification

This is among the best entry-level public health certifications for nurses. Earn it if you’re interested in environmental and occupational health nursing.

The certification covers environmental health-related topics like:

  • Water safety
  • Pollution
  • Environmental disease prevention

With it, you can work in regulatory bodies and environmental health agencies. Apply for it with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

Telehealth and Digital Health Certification

This certification focuses on virtual healthcare delivery and remote patient monitoring. You’ll learn about the proper use of telehealth tech to improve patient outcomes.

Telemedicine and telehealth became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Today, these are increasingly relevant in modern healthcare and public health initiatives.

Find the certification at nursing and public health organizations. Check out the American Telemedicine Association and Telehealth Certification Institute.

How to Get Started with Public Health Certifications

It’s easy enough to get started with earning public health certifications. You start by exploring your options and enrolling in training programs. Then, you must pass the certification exam, if any.

The tricky part is in the timing – when do you take specific public health certifications? You must consider the eligibility requirements for each certification first. Some welcome nursing students, while others require an RN license and work experience.

Here’s a basic guide on timing and sequence:

When Nursing Students Should Begin Pursuing Certifications

Start as early as your first or second year in a nursing program. You’ll find certain certifications that go hand-in-hand with your nursing courses, too. Start with entry-level certifications, such as  Environmental Health Certification.

Then, when you’ve gained clinical experience, you can pursue more advanced certifications. Examples include Certified Nurse Educator and Public Health Nurse – Certified.

Recommended Order Based on Career Interests and Education Level

The order in which you earn public health certifications depends on many factors. You must consider your education level, interests, and goals for starters.

If you’re interested in community health and outreach, here’s a recommended sequence. 

  • Community Health Worker
  • Health Promotion and Wellness Certification
  • Public Health Policy and Advocacy

You can discuss your options with an academic advisor, too.

Online and In-person Options for Certification Programs

Online public health certifications for nursing students are excellent options. You’ll love their flexibility, convenience, and quality. Check out Coursera, the National Public Health Institute, and colleges.

In-person programs provide the benefits of face-to-face learning. Professional organizations and local health departments offer them.

Conclusion

Public health nursing certifications for students provide these benefits:

  • Improve your knowledge of disease prevention, policy, and community health
  • Be more competitive for job and career advancement opportunities
  • Meet the demand for public health nurses in the face of global health challenges

If you want to enjoy these benefits, explore your specialization opportunities. These include community health nursing, epidemiology, and environmental health.

Take the next steps – research certification programs and gain experience. Be sure to network your way to success, too.

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