Our commitment to nursing

For more than 125 years, Johnson & Johnson has been proud to advocate for, elevate, and empower the nursing profession, as we know that nurses are the backbone of health care.
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Why be a nurse?

A career in nursing is one of the most exciting and rewarding occupations. Nurses provide vital hands-on patient care, but that’s not all they do. They are leaders, innovators, educators, change makers helping improve access to care.
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Career advice and inspiration

When new ideas can save lives, nurse innovators need support to move from bedside to boardroom. Their firsthand experience helps them identify patient needs and shape the future of healthcare, as seen in stories from leaders inspiring the next generation.
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Why specialize as a nurse?

Once you’re a Registered Nurse you can take your career in so many new directions by specializing in an area you really enjoy.
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    Nursing
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    1. Nursing/
    2. Nursing specialties/
    3. Public health nurse

    Public health nurse

    A public health nurse promotes and protects the health of people within a community.
    Required education
    ADN or BSN
    Average annual salary
    $74,000
    Payscale.com (Jan. 2026)
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    Varied
    Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
    red icon of marker pin to represent the concept of out-of-hospital nursing specialty career attribute
    Out-of-hospital
    Treat patients in their homes, during travel, or other non-hospital environments.
    red icon of two persona figures to represent the concept of patient-facing nursing specialty career attribute
    Patient-facing
    Work hands-on, directly with patients.
    red icon of persona figure to represent the concept of independent nursing specialty career attribute
    Independent
    Work on your own or even start your own practice, in some states.

    What is the role of a public health nurse?

    You’ll create plans that prevent health or safety issues and help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters.

    What you’ll do as a public health nurse

    Assessment

    You’ll collect data and try to find patterns in disease outbreaks.

    Education

    You’ll teach people about preventing diseases and leading a healthy life.

    Intervention

    You’ll step in when you suspect cases of violence or abuse.

    Leadership

    You’ll lead the community during a crisis, such as a disease outbreak, or widespread addictions.

    Treatment

    You’ll perform health screenings and administer medications.
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    Where you’ll work as a public health nurse

    Public health nurses work in a variety of settings, including:
    • County health departments
    • City health departments
    • Federal health organization
    • Mobile health care service units

    How to become a public health nurse

    Get an Associate’s Degrees in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

    When considering a future nursing career, it’s important to explore the different nursing programs available and the paths they offer. With various options like associate degree programs, bachelor’s degree programs, and direct-entry master’s degree programs, prospective students can choose the educational path that best suits their goals and interests.

    Pass the NCLEX-RN.

    The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is the all-important step between graduating from nursing school and becoming a nurse. It’s a standardized test, set by the Board of Nursing in each state, that makes sure you have the knowledge and skills you need to work in the field of nursing.

    Work as a Registered Nurse, gaining 2,000 hours experience in public health nursing.

    You’re ready to work as a public health nurse!

    Public health nurse career resources

    Become a member of a public health nurse organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
    Association of Public Health Nurses

    Related nursing specialties

    Explore all specialties

    • Health policy nurse (HPN)

      Health policy nurses support the research, development, and implementation of healthcare policies. They advocate for patients and providers by shaping legislation, improving healthcare access, and communicating public health needs to government and policy leaders.
      Explore this specialty

    • School nurse

      A school nurse takes care of students from pre-K school to college, who get sick or injured in an academic setting.
      Explore this specialty