Why Get a Degree in Community Health Nursing?
Today, community health nursing has blossomed into a rich discipline, and certification exams are provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center at the Baccalaureate and advanced practice levels. While you can practice in a community health care setting without being certified as a CHN (Community Health Nurse), many nurses find that the foundational principles and advanced skills of community health nursing practice are best learned in a classroom--whether traditional or virtual.
Maria Gonzalez has been working as a community health nurse for nearly five years. Her primary responsibilities are to provide immunizations and to educate the public about the spread of disease. She works with schoolchildren and office employees in three Hispanic neighborhoods in southern Colorado, and she also spends one afternoon a week volunteering at a private clinic. Although the nature of Gonzalez' work qualifies as "community health nursing," she is not yet a certified CHN.
"There is a lot of confusion about this," explains Gonzalez. "I practice community health nursing but my degree is a BSN...I don't have formal training in community health nursing apart from a few classes I took in undergrad. But I have a colleague who is an advanced practice nurse and he is certified, but he's not working with populations at all. So there is some overlap, and it's not always clear."
Most nurses who are working in community health settings at the decision-making level do have advanced degrees and certification, but about 15% of RNs work in public or community health settings without certification in the field, according to a national sample survey by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Those community health settings include state and local health departments, visiting nursing services, student health services, and occupational services, among others.
"I definitely look forward to having my degree," Gonzalez says. "(In my current role) there is never enough staff to evaluate our findings, there's so much bureaucracy, I feel like I am just running from place to place. And it's reactive, I am just reacting to what my patients want. I would like to be able to see the big picture more. I am hoping that my degree will help me advance in that direction."
Gonzalez is currently enrolled in an online program that will enable her to finish her degree in two years--although she may extend the time to three years. "It's hard juggling work and school. One advice I would give is to not overload yourself...if you come home and you're too tired to do the reading, it's a waste of time if you're not actually benefiting from the class. So take your time and choose a program that offers plenty of support for students, like online forums and mentoring and video conferencing."
As community health nursing continues to evolve as a specialty, the career opportunities for nurses with a strong educational background are expected to keep pace. If you work in a community health care setting and are hoping to take on supervisory roles or more exciting projects, consider pursuing a degree in community or public health.
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Achieve the education you need to turn your health care career goals into reality. Explore accredited online LPN to RN/BSN programs, Paramedic to RN bridge programs, RN to BSN degree completion, RN to MSN Bridge programs, Master's in Nursing Degrees, Nurse Practitioner programs, and Public Health degrees offered by top tier online nursing schools and universities, and request additional information directly from any of our featured schools:
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University of Phoenix
Campus
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs:- BS in Nursing (RN Required)
- M.S. in Nursing
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- Gardena
- Southfield
- Saint Paul
- Ontario
- Manassas
- Spring
- Online
- Woodland Hills
- Fresno
- San Antonio
- Flint
- Bakersfield
- Tampa
- Reston
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- Daytona Beach
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- Ann Arbor
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- Hurst
- Tucson
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- Chandler
- Murrieta
- Westminster
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- Clinton Township
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- Troy
- St Louis Park
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- San Diego
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- Los Angeles
- Rancho Cordova
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- Plantation
- Baton Rouge
- Fairfax
- Nashville
- Sacramento
- Lancaster
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University of Southern Nevada
Online
The USN accelerated online program offers accelerated nursing education that allows you to earn a BSN in just 14 months. This new program blends the personal convenience of online course study with enriching clinical learning in Henderson, Nevada.
Programs:- Accelerated BSN
Keiser University
Campus
Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.
Programs:- Nursing, MS
- Medical Assisting, AS
- Fort Lauderdale
CollegeAmerica
Campus
Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.
Programs:- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)
- Flagstaff
- Phoenix
- Colorado Springs
- Denver
- Fort Collins
- Cheyenne
Stevens-Henager
Campus
For more than 119 years, Stevens-Henager College has worked to train generations of graduates for new careers. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Our degree programs, designed to help graduates compete in the ever-evolving employment market, include Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Surgical Technology, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Graphic Arts*. Online programs are offered via Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray. Stevens-Henager College Idaho Falls is a branch campus of the CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ, main campus.
*Check each campus for program availability.
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Nursing Education
- Master of Science in Nursing Administration
- Boise
- Layton
- Ogden
- Murray
- Saint George
- Idaho Falls
- Lehi
- Orem
- Nampa
- Logan
Sanford-Brown Institute
Campus
Get everything you need for the medical career you want. Sanford-Brown Institute's advanced programs allow you to complete your certificate or degree program in as little as 9 months. Learn more today.
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant Specialist
- Melville
- Monroeville
- Orlando
- Austin
Keiser University Campus
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, BS (Online Only)
- Nursing, AS
- Nursing, MS (Online Only)
- Orlando
- Lakeland
- Sarasota
- Fort Lauderdale
- Port Saint Lucie
- Tampa
- Jacksonville
- Tallahassee
- Melbourne
- Fort Myers
- Hollywood
- West Palm Beach
- Daytona Beach
Medtech
Campus
Start your career with an education from Medtech. We offer programs in biotechnology, health care management, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, medical lab technology, and nursing, plus several short-term career courses.
Programs:- School of Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
Keiser University Graduate School
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, MS (Online)
- Fort Lauderdale
Lincoln Technical Institute
Campus
Lincoln Technical Institute provides career-focused, hands-on training programs with industry experienced instructors. Get the skills for a rewarding in-demand career.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Casselberry
- Edison
- Shelton
- Paramus
- Hamden
- Mount Laurel
- Brockton
- Saint Petersburg
- Somerville
- Philadelphia
- Lowell
- Allentown
- Lincoln
Harrison College
Campus
Get started on your career with an education from Harrison College. We offer more than 30 degree, certificate, and diploma programs in the fields of health sciences, veterinary technology, information technology, criminal justice, and business, in addition to our culinary arts academy.
Programs:- Nursing - Associate of Science
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
- Indianapolis
- Lafayette
- Muncie
- Elkhart
- Columbus
- Terre Haute
- Grove City
- Evansville
- Anderson
Kaplan University
Campus
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work.
Programs:- MS in Nursing
- RN to MS in Nursing
- RN to BS in Nursing
- Fort Lauderdale
Carrington College
Campus
Carrington College has helped over 45,000 graduates realize their dream of a career in healthcare. Now it's your turn. Choose from eleven conveniently located campuses.
Programs:- Registered Nursing
- Medical Assisting
- Phoenix
- Albuquerque
- Tucson
- Mesa
- Boise
- Reno
- Portland
- Spokane
Florida Career College
Campus
Train for the real-world skills that help you launch a successful technology or healthcare career with a degree, or diploma from Florida Career College.
Programs:- Associate's Degree - Nursing RN
- Diploma - Patient Care Technician
- Diploma - Medical Assistant Technician
- Boynton Beach
- Miami
- Pompano Beach
- West Palm Beach
- Hollywood
- Clearwater
Colorado Christian University
Campus
With a heritage dating back to 1914, Colorado Christian University is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. As the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities located in the mainline Rocky Mountains region, and just a few minutes from downtown Denver, CCU is uniquely positioned to offer students a distinctive variety of educational opportunities and experiences. CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and in the world. CCU students are enrolled at the main campus near Denver and at satellite locations throughout Colorado.
Programs:- Nursing: B.S. Nursing (BSN)
- RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Colorado Springs
- Sterling
- Englewood
- Denver
- Grand Junction
