March 29, 2024
Updated May 12, 2025
17 minute read
Public Health Nursing is a specialized field focused on improving the health outcomes of entire communities and populations. Unlike clinical nurses who primarily treat individual patients for specific conditions, public health nurses (PHNs) work to prevent disease, promote health, and address health disparities across diverse groups. They operate at the intersection of nursing, social sciences, and public health principles, employing a broad perspective to tackle health challenges where people live, work, and learn.
The appeal of public health nursing often lies in its capacity for large-scale impact and its focus on social justice. PHNs engage directly with communities, identify health trends, educate the public, and advocate for policies that create healthier environments. This career offers the chance to build relationships, empower individuals and groups, and contribute meaningfully to community well-being, often addressing the root causes of health issues rather than just managing symptoms.
What is Public Health Nursing?
Definition and Scope
Public Health Nursing is defined as "the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences". Its scope is broad, encompassing assessment, program planning, policy development, advocacy, outreach, and evaluation within communities. PHNs consider the 'upstream' factors – the social, economic, and environmental determinants – that influence health.
The practice is fundamentally population-based, meaning even when care is delivered to individuals or families, it is done within the context of the larger community's health needs and trends. PHNs strive for health equity, working proactively to reduce health disparities among different population groups. This involves understanding how factors like income, education, housing, and discrimination affect health outcomes.
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Find a path to becoming a Public Health Nurse. Learn more at:
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Reading list
We've selected some books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Public Health Nurse.
Provides a solid introduction to the basic principles and concepts of epidemiology, which is fundamental to understanding infectious disease transmission and control. It includes real-world examples and covers topics such as study design, data analysis, and the role of epidemiology in public health. This widely used textbook in public health and medical programs.
This textbook delves into key social justice issues relevant to health disparities and health equity, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and real-world solutions. It valuable resource for students and professionals seeking to implement health equity initiatives.
Focuses on newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, covering their epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and control. It's highly relevant to contemporary topics in infectious disease and provides a good overview of current threats.
This seminal report documents the evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare in the United States, even after accounting for socioeconomic factors. It crucial resource for understanding the historical and systemic nature of health inequities and is highly relevant for both academic study and professional practice.
Paul Farmer, a physician and anthropologist, examines how social and economic inequalities drive the spread of infectious diseases, particularly in the developing world. is crucial for understanding the social determinants of health and the disproportionate burden of infectious diseases on marginalized populations. It provides a critical perspective on global health.
Written by a leading infectious disease expert, this book examines the threats posed by infectious diseases and the need for preparedness. It delves into contemporary challenges and provides insights into public health strategies. It's valuable for understanding the current landscape of infectious disease threats.
This report from the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health foundational text outlining the global evidence and recommendations for addressing health inequities through action on social determinants. It provides a global perspective and concrete examples of effective strategies.
Directly addresses racial inequality in American healthcare, arguing that implicit bias significant determinant of health disparities. It provides a legal scholar's perspective on how systemic issues and unconscious prejudices contribute to unequal treatment and health outcomes for marginalized groups. It highly relevant resource for understanding contemporary challenges and potential legal reforms.
This comprehensive guide is written specifically for health care professionals and provides an in-depth overview of chronic diseases. It covers a wide range of topics, including the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic diseases, and includes chapters on specific diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
A widely used textbook covering the fundamentals of medical microbiology, including bacteriology, virology, mycology, and parasitology. It provides essential background knowledge for understanding the causative agents of infectious diseases.
Considered a classic in public health, this book provides a broad understanding of the social factors that influence health outcomes. It is essential for anyone seeking to understand the root causes of health inequities and is often used as a foundational text in public health education.
This seminal report provides a foundational overview of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare in the United States. While older, it remains a crucial reference for understanding the evidence base for disparities and the factors contributing to them, including the healthcare system, patient factors, and societal issues. It is essential background reading for anyone new to the topic.
A detailed historical account of the 1918 influenza pandemic, this book highlights the societal impact, the scientific challenges, and the public health response. It's a classic for understanding the history of pandemics and the lessons learned (or not learned) from past outbreaks.
This comprehensive resource from the Pan American Health Organization focuses specifically on zoonotic diseases, which are a major source of new infectious threats. It's a key reference for understanding diseases transmitted between animals and humans.
Building on the concepts of social determinants, Marmot explores the global challenge of health inequality and argues for the need to create a fairer society to improve health for all. deepens the understanding of the pervasive nature of health inequities worldwide.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of viruses is crucial in infectious disease. provides a detailed look at the molecular biology of viruses, essential for those seeking a deeper scientific understanding. It useful reference for students and professionals in virology and microbiology.
This report focuses on the role of communities in promoting health equity and identifies actions needed by various stakeholders. It valuable resource for understanding community-based approaches and the structural barriers that need to be addressed.
Introduces the framework of political determinants of health, arguing that the distribution of power and resources through political processes significantly shapes health outcomes and inequities. It provides a crucial perspective on the policy and political factors that create and maintain health disparities. It is valuable for understanding the systemic nature of the problem.
Deconstructs the concept of race as a biological category, arguing it social and political construct reinforced by contemporary science and technology. Understanding this is crucial for dismantling the idea of biological predisposition to health outcomes based on race, which foundational element in studying health disparities. It provides essential background for advanced discussions on race and health.
Provides a powerful account of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, highlighting the social, economic, and historical factors that contributed to its spread. It offers critical insights into health disparities and the challenges of controlling outbreaks in resource-limited settings.
A seminal work that alerted the world to the growing threat of emerging infectious diseases. While published in the 1990s, its themes of ecological disruption and globalization driving disease emergence remain highly relevant. It's a classic in the field of emerging infectious diseases.
Paul Farmer's work examines the links between health, human rights, and social inequality on a global scale. provides a powerful argument for viewing health inequities as a matter of social injustice and a violation of human rights.
Another excellent historical account of the 1918 influenza pandemic, this book examines its global impact and how it shaped the modern world. It complements 'The Great Influenza' by offering a broader international perspective.
Marmot's work on the "status syndrome" highlights the profound impact of social hierarchy and control over one's life on health outcomes. offers a deeper dive into the psychological and social mechanisms through which inequality translates into poor health.
This reader compiles key articles and research on the intersection of race, ethnicity, and health. It valuable resource for gaining a deeper understanding of the historical and ongoing impact of race and ethnicity on health outcomes and disparities.
Explores the surprising link between white racial resentment and negative health outcomes among white Americans. It provides a unique perspective on how political ideologies and social factors contribute to health disparities, even within dominant groups. It is highly relevant for understanding the complex interplay of race, politics, and health in a contemporary context.
Explores the science of how outbreaks spread, drawing lessons from various infectious diseases and other forms of contagion. It provides an accessible introduction to the mathematical and scientific principles behind disease transmission.
Exposes the history of state-sponsored segregation in the United States, which has created lasting patterns of residential inequality. Understanding these patterns is essential for recognizing their impact on access to resources, environmental exposures, and ultimately, health outcomes.
Provides a clinical approach to infectious diseases, focusing on diagnosis and management. It practical resource for medical students and clinicians, offering case-based learning and up-to-date information on clinical practice.
This edited collection offers an interdisciplinary examination of the key social determinants of health. It is highly relevant for gaining a broad understanding of the various factors outside of healthcare that influence health outcomes and contribute to disparities. It can serve as a useful reference for exploring specific determinants in more detail.
This edited volume explores contemporary issues in international medicine and the pursuit of healthcare equity globally. It is particularly relevant for understanding current challenges and approaches in addressing health disparities on a worldwide scale, including the impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
While not solely focused on health, this influential book provides essential context on the systemic racism and its impact on marginalized communities, particularly Black Americans, through the lens of the criminal justice system. Understanding this history is crucial for grasping the social and political determinants of health inequities.
To effectively address health equity, it is crucial to understand and actively work against racism. provides a framework for identifying and opposing racism in its various forms, which is directly relevant to dismantling the systems that perpetuate health disparities.
This gripping narrative provides a vivid account of the emergence of the Ebola virus. While not a textbook, it offers a compelling look at the dangers of emerging infectious diseases and the work of those on the front lines. It's excellent for a general audience to understand the real-world implications and intensity of outbreaks.
Focusing on the bacterial causes of infectious diseases, this book provides a detailed understanding of clinical bacteriology. It valuable resource for those needing to deepen their knowledge of bacterial pathogens, diagnosis, and treatment.
A Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, this book offers a comprehensive historical analysis of the American healthcare system's evolution. While not exclusively focused on disparities, it provides essential background on the structural and political factors that have shaped healthcare access and delivery, which are fundamental to understanding how disparities are created and perpetuated. It valuable reference for grasping the historical context of the current system.
Introduces the concept of structural competency, which encourages healthcare providers to recognize and address the upstream social and structural factors that contribute to health inequities. It is particularly relevant for students and professionals in healthcare fields.
While focusing on housing, this book vividly illustrates the deep connections between poverty, housing instability, and health. It provides a ground-level view of how social and economic factors directly impact individual and family well-being and access to care.
Tells the story of Henrietta Lacks and the unauthorized use of her cells for scientific research. It raises critical ethical questions about informed consent, medical exploitation, and the history of medical research involving marginalized populations, all of which are relevant to health equity.
Specifically addresses health disparities from a global perspective, emphasizing the role of governance in exacerbating or mitigating these inequities. It is relevant for understanding health disparities beyond a national context and exploring the international factors that contribute to unequal health outcomes worldwide.
Published by the WHO, this book provides guidance on monitoring health inequality using data. It valuable resource for understanding the methods and importance of tracking health disparities to inform policy and action. It is particularly useful for researchers and public health professionals.
Historical overview of the last 100 years of pandemic influenza, including the 1918 influenza pandemic.
While not solely focused on health, this book provides a compelling argument for how racism has a cost for the entire society, including in areas like health. It offers a broader societal context for understanding the impact of racism, which root cause of many health disparities.
Is the official guide to the diagnosis and treatment of communicable disease and includes a chapter on public health principles and surveillance.
This concise introduction offers a broad overview of infectious diseases, covering their causes, spread, and impact. It's an excellent starting point for those new to the topic, providing foundational knowledge in an accessible format.
Written by a leading cancer researcher, this book discusses the future of health care in light of the growing burden of chronic diseases. Agus argues that we need to move away from a focus on treating individual diseases and towards a more holistic approach that addresses the underlying causes of chronic diseases.
Comprehensive overview of tropical diseases, written by experts in the field.
Delves into the methods used in social epidemiology to study health inequalities. It is more technical and suitable for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the research and analytical approaches in the field. It valuable reference for graduate students and researchers. While not solely focused on disparities, the methods are directly applicable.
While focused on cancer, this book provides a compelling 'biography' of a disease, exploring its history, scientific understanding, and impact on society. It offers a valuable framework for thinking about the history and impact of major diseases, which can be applied to infectious diseases. It Pulitzer Prize-winning work recognized for its engaging narrative and depth.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
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