Public Health in Oregon - Join The Conversation

Investing in the next generation of health professionals requires exposing high school students to the field. Peer to peer health education is a wonderful program exposing students to the importance of public health and the medical professional world. School-based health centers function as another way to show adolescents how fascinating this field is.

I wonder if there have been any studies correlating the number of high school alumni in the medical professional field to the availability of high school health programs/medical resources.

-Zachary Goldman

I believe there is a lack of understanding of what Public Health Nurses do; therefore many aren’t necessarily pursuing the profession. While the need might be prevalent among Public Health professionals, the public lacks understanding. Public Health Nurses are essential to our society; they are the ones who perform and have the comprehension to provide services that are necessary to help people who are at the lower end of the socioeconomic status as stated at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo last year.  In my opinion, they are trained and have knowledge on the more personal/sensitive side of medicine. They are trained to be more culturally competent professionals in medicine, which is essential to our society today due to our diverse population. They meet the need and have the tools to provide exceptional service. The public in general lacks understanding of what Public Health professionals do. As a near future Public Health professional, one of my goals now will definitely be to provide more concrete answers to the vague questions I usually get, when asked about Public Health as a profession. We need to market/promote the profession, because it’s crucial to our world.

http://apha.confex.com/apha/135am/techprogram/paper_154308.htm
Kamar H.M.
PSU Masters of Public Health

I agree with Laura that exposing nursing students to the opportunities that a career in public health could provide would be a great way to increase interest.  I also think that finding a way to increase the salaries of those nurses already choosing public health could be quite effective, although in our already under-funded field, this may be challenging.  Perhaps recruitment of people who would not originally have considered nursing as a career would be another viable option.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of October the unemployment rate reached 6.5%, a staggering number.  If we could reach those who are out of work because of the current economic downturn, we may be able to find some who would be passionate and capable public health nurses.

Christine McWilliams
Masters of Public Health Candidate

I agree that the nursing shortage is going to have a big effect on public health and health care in general. In part one of the briefing the reasons for not as many nurses starting in the public health world are true. I graduated from nursing school four years ago. Public Health nursing is not part of the core curriculum. It is maybe one class. Most teaching is geared towards hospital-based care. Out of a class of about 75 RNs less than 5 went to jobs outside of a hospital. I feel that the first step is making more nursing students aware of the public health field and the opportunities it has for nursing.

Laura Kearsley RN
Masters of Public Health student