What Does a Public Health Nurse Do in Alaska?

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Public health nurses (PHNs) in Alaska play a key role in maintaining the well-being and safety of their local communities. They provide preventative care services like checkups and vaccines to reduce the spread of infectious diseases across Alsakan cities and towns. When an infection does spread, PHNs help investigate the cause and track the transmission. Public health nurses in Alaska also educate patients on health and wellness, assess the needs of the community, and help local citizens brace for emergencies. Are you interested in becoming a Public Health Nurses in Alaska? You would have a wide range of responsibilities that could make a positive impact!

Alaskan Public Health Nurses Provide Preventative Care Services

One of your most important responsibilities as a Public Health Nurse in Alaska is to provide preventative care. You might administer vaccinations, hearing and vision tests, or routine health checkups. You get to work with patients of all ages. In pediatrics, you perform developmental testing and give scheduled vaccines. For mothers, you provide reproductive services, including pregnancy testing and family planning counseling. For the elderly, you might conduct preventative screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, vision and hearing, as well as cancer and other diseases. When necessary, you refer your patients to specialists for further care.

PHNs Investigate and Control Diseases around Alaska

Preventative care can control the spread of infections, but it can’t completely stop them. When an outbreak occurs in Alaska, you might be called to investigate the cause and monitor the spread. You conduct patient testing, provide treatment or follow-up care, and educate patients on how they can stop passing the illness on to others. If the outbreak is severe or widespread, you may need to participate in epidemiological investigations and record the demographic and disease information into a statewide—or even nationwide—public health database. This can help prevent the start of an epidemic or pandemic, and also provides researchers with information that can inform treatment protocols.

PHNs Educate the Alaska Public on Healthcare

As a public health nurse, you are also a public health teacher. You meet with individuals and groups to share health information and help patients make healthier lifestyle choices. You teach patients about:

  • Nutrition and healthy eating habits
  • Exercise and physical activity
  • Disease prevention and wellness practices
  • Substance abuse prevention
  • Safe parenting practices

While you integrate education into everyday patient appointments, you can provide your knowledge in a variety of community settings, such as:

  • Health fairs
  • Public schools
  • Assisted living facilities

PHNs Conduct Community Health Planning

Another responsibility you have as a public health nurse is to assess the needs of your community. You work with local government leaders and healthcare providers to identify health concerns in your city or region and develop strategies to address them. This can include setting up a substance abuse program, organizing a public vaccination campaign, or planning for emergencies.

PHNs Work on Emergency Plans

Emergencies happen everywhere, but in Alaska, weather-related injuries and emergencies such as hypothermia and frostbite, heavy snowfall, avalanches, wildfires, and coastal flooding are common. As a public health nurse, your job is to prepare Alaskans for these types of emergencies. This means drafting disaster preparedness plans, educating the public on safety and readiness, conducting disaster drills, and assessing the community for points of vulnerability. You might also set up emergency vaccine centers or points-of-distribution clinics when a public challenge hits.

Public Health Nurses May Act as Travel Nurses in AK

Because Alaska is expansive with many rural communities, if you work in public health in the state, you’re likely to be a travelling nurse. You could easily travel 100s of miles. This is especially helpful for patients who are not mobile. In this case, you’d be known as an itinerant nurse, or a public health nurse who provides health services to those located far from clinics or medical facilities. If you enjoy traveling and want to gain diverse experiences in your career, consider becoming an itinerant public health nurse.

Does the idea of being a Public Health Nurse in one of the most beautiful states in the nation make you curious? Contact Charter College today. Our Anchorage, Alaska campus offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing to help you build the necessary healthcare skills to succeed as a public health nurse. The degree is offered in a blended learning format, which mixes traditional in-person learning with online courses for flexibility and convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.