Making a difference: Advanced public health nursing practice

Advanced Public Health Nurses (APHN) function in critical roles across the health care system. Indeed, many of them are state health officers ensuring policies and services to protect the public's health. APHNs help advance the overall health of the public by developing and implementing evidence based population level interventions. This long standing nursing role is integral to the health of the public, and these nurses deserve to be highlighted for their work, which will serve to encourage young nurses to consider this as a nursing career option. The rewards of being an APHN are in making a difference in the lives of an entire group of people, often those who are most vulnerable. The nursing profession recently approved the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Consensus model, delineating special educational requirements for advanced practice nursing which includes diagnosis and prescriptive authority. This was a positive development for many nurses engaging in advanced practice throughout the country as it established a standard of preparation that promotes safe and effective care for clients. However, the focus on the APRN consensus model has meant that other advanced nursing roles, equally valuable to improving national health outcomes, have been overshadowed, such as the APHN role. Nurses contemplating specialty education in areas of nursing are often unaware of options other than the APRN roles. This video, developed by faculty from an APHN graduate program, highlights some dedicated APHNs to demonstrate the rewards, career options, and ways in which APHNs are leading the effort to improve our nation's health.