Advocacy Calls for Formal Recognition of Public Health Nurses as a Distinct Profession
A Columbia University study stresses the importance of granting public health nurses a separate federal occupational classification to better support and recognize their vital role in community health and emergency responses.
A groundbreaking study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health highlights the urgent need to formally recognize public health nurses (PHNs) as a separate occupational category within the federal workforce. With a history spanning over 140 years, PHNs play a crucial yet often undervalued role in safeguarding community health through activities such as disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, health education, policy advocacy, and community engagement.
Currently, PHNs are grouped under the broader registered nurse classification, which obscures their unique skill set and scope of work. This lack of distinct classification hampers efforts to accurately track workforce size, assess compensation levels, and address workforce shortages, especially during public health crises like opioid addiction, climate disasters, and chronic disease management.
The study analyzed data from national surveys and real-time job postings to differentiate PHNs from other registered nurses. Findings reveal that PHNs perform specialized duties, including leading community health assessments, managing care coordination, advocating for policy changes, and responding to emergencies, which are vital to effective public health responses.
Recognizing PHNs with a separate federal occupational code would enable better workforce planning, appropriate funding, and policy support. Despite constituting approximately 18% of local and 8% of state health department workforce, their contributions remain underappreciated and less visible to policymakers.
The authors emphasize that the next opportunity to revise these classifications will be in 2028, urging federal agencies to act promptly. Improved recognition of PHNs would ensure their critical work is properly counted and supported, ultimately strengthening the nation's public health infrastructure.
This study was published in the journal "Nursing Outlook" and highlights the importance of elevating the status of public health nursing as a specialized and essential component of public health workforce.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-health-nurses-due.html
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