Public Health Nurse Resume examples & templates
Copyable Public Health Nurse Resume examples
The alarm sounds at 5:30 AM, and Sarah—a public health nurse in rural Minnesota—is already planning her day: three home visits for new mothers, a community vaccination clinic, and somehow finding time to complete the grant application due Friday. Between increasing caseloads (up 31% in many regions since 2020) and shrinking budgets, public health nurses find themselves stretched impossibly thin while communities need their expertise more than ever. It's the hidden reality behind this vital profession—constant navigation between direct care, education, advocacy, and mountains of paperwork.
What makes this career uniquely rewarding is also what makes it challenging: public health nurses work at the intersection of healthcare and social welfare, often serving as the first (and sometimes only) healthcare contact for vulnerable populations. The field is shifting toward population-based approaches and preventive care models, requiring professionals to develop expertise in data analysis and program development alongside traditional nursing skills. For those with the right mix of clinical knowledge, communication abilities, and genuine compassion, public health nursing offers opportunities to address health inequities and create lasting community impact—work that will only grow more essential as our healthcare system evolves.
Junior Public Health Nurse Resume Example
Megan R. Winters, RN, BSN
Seattle, WA • (206) 555-7821 • megan.winters@email.com • linkedin.com/in/meganwinters
Professional Summary
Recently licensed Public Health Nurse with clinical rotation experience in community health settings and 1+ year of hands-on nursing experience. Strong background in patient education, preventive care, and health screenings with special focus on underserved populations. Looking to leverage my community outreach skills and passion for public wellness at a forward-thinking public health department or community clinic.
Experience
Public Health Nurse – King County Department of Public Health, Seattle, WA
May 2023 – Present
- Conduct health assessments and screenings for 25-30 clients weekly in mobile vaccination clinics throughout underserved neighborhoods
- Collaborate with social workers and community partners to address social determinants of health for vulnerable populations
- Developed culturally sensitive educational materials on COVID-19 vaccination that increased appointment bookings by 17% in targeted zip codes
- Document patient interactions and maintain accurate records using Epic electronic health record system
- Participated in 3 community health fairs reaching 850+ residents with blood pressure screenings and health education
Staff Nurse (New Graduate) – Northwest Community Hospital, Bellevue, WA
August 2022 – April 2023
- Provided direct patient care to a 4-6 patient assignment on a medical-surgical unit
- Administered medications and treatments according to physician orders while ensuring patient safety
- Coordinated discharge planning with multidisciplinary team to ensure continuity of care
- Educated patients and families on disease processes, medication management, and lifestyle modifications
Student Nurse Extern – Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
May 2021 – August 2021
- Assisted registered nurses with patient care activities including vital signs, ADLs, and basic assessments
- Participated in weekly community outreach program offering health screenings at homeless shelters
- Shadowed public health nurses during immunization clinics and home visits
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Graduated: June 2022 | GPA: 3.78
Relevant Coursework: Community Health Nursing, Epidemiology, Health Promotion, Public Health Policy
Certifications & Licenses
- Registered Nurse (RN) License – Washington State, #RN60291847 (2022-present)
- BLS/CPR Certification – American Heart Association (Current)
- FEMA Emergency Management Certificate (2023)
- Mental Health First Aid Certification (2022)
Skills
- Immunization administration & vaccine management
- Patient/community education & outreach
- Cultural competency & health equity approaches
- Case management for high-risk populations
- Electronic health records (Epic, CHARS)
- Motivational interviewing techniques
- Spanish – conversational proficiency
- Microsoft Office & Google Suite
- Public speaking & group facilitation
- Data collection for population health assessment
Professional Affiliations
- American Public Health Association (APHA) – Student Member
- Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA)
Volunteer Experience
Volunteer Nurse – Rainier Valley Free Clinic, Seattle, WA (Monthly since September 2022)
- Provide basic health screenings and patient education at weekend community clinic
- Help coordinate referrals to social services for uninsured and underinsured patients
Mid-level Public Health Nurse Resume Example
Sarah Rodriguez, RN, BSN
Portland, OR 97214 • (503) 555-8942 • srodriguez.nurse@email.com
linkedin.com/in/sarahrodriguezrn • Available for telehealth and in-person roles
Public Health Nurse with 5+ years of experience in community health settings and infectious disease management. Skilled in implementing health education programs that improved vaccination rates by 27% in underserved neighborhoods. Bilingual (English/Spanish) clinician with a talent for building trust with diverse populations while coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive care.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Public Health Nurse | Multnomah County Health Department, Portland, OR | March 2020 – Present
- Lead COVID-19 response team for 3 community clinics, managing testing protocols and vaccine distribution for 15,000+ residents
- Designed and implemented postpartum home visit program serving 172 first-time mothers, reducing ER visits by 31% in the first year
- Coordinate with 6 community organizations to provide health screenings and education at homeless shelters, reaching 850+ individuals quarterly
- Supervise team of 4 junior nurses and 2 community health workers, providing mentorship and performance evaluations
- Secured $78,500 grant to expand mobile health services in rural communities (still can’t believe we got the full amount!)
Public Health Nurse | Washington County Public Health Division, Hillsboro, OR | June 2018 – March 2020
- Managed caseload of 125+ clients in tuberculosis control program, achieving 94% medication adherence rate
- Conducted 200+ home visits annually for maternal-child health assessments and interventions
- Developed Spanish-language diabetes management materials that increased program participation by 43%
- Collaborated with school nurses across 12 districts to standardize communicable disease reporting protocols
Staff Nurse | Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR | August 2016 – June 2018
- Provided direct patient care on 28-bed medical-surgical unit with focus on infectious disease cases
- Trained 5 new graduate nurses on infection control protocols and IV therapy techniques
- Participated in hospital-wide quality improvement initiative that reduced CLABSI rates by 18%
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR | 2016
Dean’s List (7 quarters) • Student Nurse Association Vice President • Community Health Practicum in Rural Oregon
Certifications:
- Registered Nurse (RN), Oregon State Board of Nursing, License #RN76429 (expires 12/2023)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) – 2019
- Trauma-Informed Care Certification – 2021
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
- Infectious Disease Management & Contact Tracing
- Community Health Needs Assessment
- Maternal-Child Health Services
- Electronic Health Records (Epic, OCHIN)
- Grant Writing & Program Development
- Health Education & Promotion
- Cultural Competency & Health Equity
- Bilingual: Fluent Spanish/English
- Vaccine Administration & Cold Chain Management
- Public Speaking & Community Outreach
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Public Health Association (APHA) – Member since 2017
- Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) – Member since 2016
- Association of Community Health Nursing Educators – Member since 2020
Senior / Experienced Public Health Nurse Resume Example
Elena R. Martinez, BSN, RN, PHN
Seattle, WA | (206) 555-8764 | emartinez.nurse@email.com | linkedin.com/in/elenamartinez
Dedicated Public Health Nurse with 9+ years of experience working in community health settings with diverse populations. Proven track record in developing and implementing health education programs that reduced preventable hospitalizations by 27% in King County’s underserved communities. Skilled in building cross-functional partnerships with community organizations, clinics, and government agencies to address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Public Health Nurse | King County Department of Public Health | Seattle, WA | Jan 2019 – Present
- Lead a team of 6 public health nurses providing direct care and education to 1,200+ individuals annually in low-income neighborhoods
- Spearheaded a maternal health initiative that increased prenatal care participation by 32% and reduced preterm births by 18% among teen mothers
- Collaborated with local schools to develop and implement a comprehensive sexual health curriculum reaching 3,000+ adolescents yearly
- Created and managed a mobile health clinic program that provides screenings and vaccinations to homeless populations (served 750+ individuals in 2022)
- Secured $175K in grant funding for community-based diabetes prevention program targeting Pacific Islander communities
Public Health Nurse | Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department | Tacoma, WA | Mar 2016 – Dec 2018
- Conducted 80+ home visits monthly for high-risk pregnant women and families with newborns in the Nurse-Family Partnership program
- Developed culturally sensitive educational materials on childhood immunizations that increased compliance rates by 24% in targeted zip codes
- Coordinated with 12 community partners to implement an opioid overdose prevention program, training 350+ individuals on naloxone administration
- Managed outbreak investigations for communicable diseases, including a local hepatitis A outbreak affecting 47 individuals
Staff Nurse | Community Health Center of Snohomish County | Everett, WA | Aug 2014 – Feb 2016
- Provided direct patient care to 15-20 patients daily in a federally qualified health center serving uninsured and underinsured populations
- Coordinated care for patients with chronic conditions, resulting in a 22% decrease in ER visits among managed cases
- Organized bimonthly health screening events at local community centers, reaching an average of 65 residents per event
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Master of Public Health (MPH) – University of Washington, Seattle, WA (2021)
Concentration: Community Health Practice | Capstone Project: “Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy in Immigrant Communities”
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Seattle University, Seattle, WA (2014)
Magna Cum Laude | Community Service Award
Certifications:
- Public Health Nursing Certification (PHN) – 2015, renewed 2020
- Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) – 2017
- Mental Health First Aid Instructor – 2019
- Trauma-Informed Care Certificate – 2020
- COVID-19 Contact Tracing – Johns Hopkins University (2020)
SKILLS
- Community Health Assessment
- Program Development & Evaluation
- Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
- Case Management
- Cultural Competency & Health Equity
- Grant Writing & Management
- Epidemiological Investigation
- Clinical Skills (immunizations, health screenings, wound care)
- Electronic Health Records (Epic, CHARS)
- Bilingual: English/Spanish (conversational)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Public Health Association (APHA) – Member since 2016
- Washington State Public Health Association – Board Member (2021-present)
- Association of Community Health Nursing Educators – Member
How to Write a Public Health Nurse Resume
Introduction
Landing your dream Public Health Nurse job starts with a resume that showcases your clinical expertise, community health knowledge, and passion for preventive care. I've reviewed thousands of nursing resumes over my career, and I can tell you firsthand that hiring managers in public health departments, community clinics, and schools spend about 7-8 seconds scanning each resume initially. Your challenge? Making those seconds count by highlighting your unique blend of clinical skills, health education experience, and community outreach capabilities.
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your resume clean and scannable—both for human eyes and computer systems. Public health organizations often use applicant tracking systems (ATS), so simplicity wins over fancy designs.
- Stick to 1-2 pages (1 page for those with under 5 years of experience)
- Use consistent headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Certifications, Skills
- Choose a readable font like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10-12pt
- Include plenty of white space—cramped resumes get overlooked
- Save as a PDF unless the job posting specifically requests another format
The most successful public health nurse resumes focus on population-level impacts rather than just individual patient care. Quantify how many people you served, educated, or screened whenever possible.
Profile/Summary Section
Your professional summary should be 3-4 lines that capture your nursing specialty, years of experience, and key public health strengths. Think of it as your "elevator pitch" to hiring managers.
For example: "Public Health Nurse with 6+ years specializing in maternal-child health programs and immunization campaigns. Experienced in facilitating community health assessments and developing culturally sensitive education materials. Skilled at building partnerships with local schools and nonprofit organizations to expand healthcare access for underserved populations."
Professional Experience
This section carries the most weight! For each position, include:
- Job title, organization name, location, and dates (month/year)
- 4-6 bullet points focusing on achievements, not just duties
- Metrics whenever possible (immunized 1,200+ children during back-to-school campaign)
- Public health-specific responsibilities (disease surveillance, health education, etc.)
- Population-specific work (maternal-infant, geriatric, immigrant communities)
Start each bullet with strong action verbs like "Coordinated," "Implemented," or "Advocated" rather than passive phrases like "Responsible for."
Education and Certifications
List your nursing degree, university, graduation year, and relevant certifications. Public health nursing positions often require or prefer:
- BSN or MSN (with public health concentration if applicable)
- Public Health Nursing Certification
- CPR/BLS Certification
- Specialized training (TB screening, immunization delivery, etc.)
- Language certifications (Spanish, ASL, etc. are huge assets!)
Keywords and ATS Tips
Many public health organizations use ATS software to filter applications. To get past these digital gatekeepers:
- Match keywords from the job description (if they say "health education," don't just use "patient teaching")
- Include specific programs you've used (EPIC, CureMD, etc.)
- Mention public health frameworks you're familiar with (social determinants of health, Health Belief Model)
- List relevant health department protocols or state regulations you've worked with
Industry-specific Terms
Show your public health expertise by naturally incorporating terminology like:
- Community health assessment
- Disease surveillance
- Epidemiological investigation
- Health disparities
- Population-based interventions
- Preventive health services
- Harm reduction
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on clinical skills without highlighting public health perspective
- Forgetting to mention experience with vulnerable populations
- Omitting community partnerships or interagency collaboration experience
- Using too many clinical abbreviations that HR staff might not understand
- Neglecting to showcase your health education and outreach capabilities
Before/After Example
Before: "Responsible for giving shots and doing health screenings at local schools."
After: "Coordinated school-based immunization program reaching 17 elementary schools, administering 876 vaccines and conducting vision/hearing screenings for 1,432 students, identifying 89 children requiring follow-up care."
Remember that public health nursing is about both compassion and data. Your resume should reflect your ability to care for communities while tracking meaningful outcomes!
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Public Health Nurse resume
- Cross-cultural communication with diverse patient populations (built rapport with Spanish-speaking communities during 2021 vaccination drives)
- Crisis management under pressure – maintained composure during emergency situations including flood evacuation coordination
- Team leadership in resource-limited settings (supervised 4 nursing assistants during mobile clinic operations)
- Patient advocacy skills – successfully navigated complex insurance barriers for underserved populations
- Collaborative care planning with interdisciplinary teams including social workers, physicians, and community health workers
- Active listening that makes patients feel genuinely heard (consistently mentioned in patient feedback forms)
Hard skills for your Public Health Nurse resume
- Electronic Health Record (EHR) management using Epic and Cerner systems
- Immunization protocols and vaccine storage compliance (CDC standards)
- Tuberculosis screening and contact investigation techniques
- Public health surveillance using NEDSS and ESSENCE platforms
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel for statistical health data analysis
- Community health needs assessment methodologies (MAPP framework)
- Case management for high-risk maternal/child populations
- Crisis intervention and disaster response (FEMA ICS-100, 200)
- REDCap database management for epidemiological studies