Principles and Practices of Public Health Nursing

Fall 2022

Course Dates: September 12-November 2, 2022

Optional Orientation Webinar: September 12, 1-2 p.m.

Mandatory Webinars:
October 5, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
October 19, 8:30 a.m.-Noon (with optional exam review 12-12:30 p.m.)

Registration is now closed.

Registration Fee: $290

This course is for registered nurses working in public health departments to address core public health nursing functions. The course comprises required reading, synchronous sessions (live webinars), asynchronous sessions (on-demand modules), course evaluation, and the completion of a final exam with a score of 80% or better.

The course familiarizes participants with public health and basic epidemiological concepts important to the practice of public health and emphasizes a synthesis of nursing practice and public health. Nursing services directed to individuals, families and groups are presented in the context of improving the health of the populations.

Course Requirements

Participants must complete all reading and online modules, attend all mandatory webinars, pass a final exam and complete the participant evaluation in order to receive NCPD contact hours. No partial credit will be awarded.

Who should take this course?

This course is required for registered nurses working in North Carolina local health departments who do not have a BSN degree. Successful completion of this course is a legal requirement for all public health nurses who do not have a BSN during their first year of employment with a local health department. Ideal timing is after the first six months of employment, but the course must be completed within the first year of public health practice. Nurses with a BSN degree may also enroll in the course, and past BSN-prepared public health nurses have found the course a useful resource in acclimating to the public health environment.  However, if space becomes limited, priority is given to those without a BSN degree. The course is a prerequisite for the Physical Assessment of Adults and STD Nurse Clinician Training Combined Practicum Course for nurses who do not have a BSN.

If you are not currently working for a North Carolina Local Health Department and you are interested in taking the course, please contact the course director, Lori Rhew at Lori.Rhew@unc.edu for additional information.

Continuing Nursing Education/Contact Hours

Nursing professional development contact hours will be awarded upon successful completion of the course.

The Public Health Nursing Institute for Continuing Excellence is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Course Providers

This course is offered through a collaboration between the Public Health Nursing Institute for Continuing Excellence at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health and the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For more information about the course, contact Lori Rhew at lorirhew@email.unc.edu.