Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

The Work

Public health nurses (PHNs) in Ireland currently work as part of a multidisciplinary team. PHNs are based in health centres and primary care centres. Care is also delivered in the home and clinic setting.

PHNs offer guidance and information to clients about how best to meet their health needs, when they meet patients. PHNs assess whether other health professionals are required in the primary care team.

PHNs provide a generalist nursing service to a broad range of patient or client groups including:

• older people who live at home
• people who are chronically ill at home
• people who are acutely ill at home
• people who are dying at home
• people with disabilities
• people suffering social deprivation
• members from the travelling community
• expectant mothers and mothers who have recently given birth
• children (settings include infant welfare services, child health services and school health services)

Services provided are extensive, covering all areas across primary, secondary, tertiary and end-of-life care.

A summary of key areas includes:

• To manage and provide safe, comprehensive clinical nursing services for patients having regard to the care needs and priorities
• To liaise with hospitals and other care professionals to facilitate discharge planning and planning patient care
• To provide support, education and preventive services (including screening, disease control, immunisation, breastfeeding support) as appropriate
• To provide assessment, identification of, need for and supervision of home help and home care attendant services
• To provide ongoing monitoring of infant, child, maternal and family health, including home visits following early discharge and developmental screening and examinations
• To provide child welfare and protection, including working closely in partnership with colleagues in the area
• To provide school health service and subsequent follow-up activities
• To complete records and supply reports as required
• To act as preceptors and provide support for student RPHNs and other student nurses

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
• Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
• Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.
• Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
• Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
• Refer community members to needed health services.
• Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
• Perform basic diagnostic procedures, such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening.
• Advise clients or community groups on issues related to diagnostic screenings, such as breast cancer screening, pap smears, glaucoma tests, or diabetes screenings.
• Advise clients or community groups on issues related to risk or prevention of conditions, such as lead poisoning, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), prenatal substance abuse, or domestic violence.

Further Information

• Public Health Nurse - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Public Health Nurse - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

There are many pathways into a career in Nursing. Nursing careers encompass areas of: General nursing, Childrens nursing, Intellectual disability nursing, Midwifery, Mental health nursing, Public health nursing, Theatre peri-operative nursing. Different career areas/ sections of nursing may involve post graduate NFQ level 9 study along with undergraduate College NFQ level 8. There are a number of different pathways to prepare you for a career in nursing.  All of these entry routes also apply to Mature Entrants.

Further Education & Training development pathways

FET Centre PLC Courses Certain Specific QQI Level 5 Certificate Programmes provide links to Nursing Degree Programmes Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

• Nursing Studies (5M4349)
• Healthcare Support (5M4339)
• Community and Health Services (5M4468)

In all cases places are limited and applicants must have achieved distinctions in five components including;

• Anatomy and Physiology (5N0749)
• Introduction to Nursing (5N4325)
• Human Growth and Development (5N1279) or Biology (5N2746)

You can check our QQI progression route course finder for options Search our QQI progression routefinder

Always contact the Admissions Office of the individual [HEls] higher education institution or visit CAO Nursing FET- QQI places, Admissions Officers contact list, www.nursingcareers.ie to check for any changes. Courses completed at FET PLC level, if meeting subject criteria students can apply via CAO under the HELS Higher education links scheme for a place in Nursing programmes.

CAO Entry – General Nurse (RGN)

There are 4 pre-registration level nursing training programmes available, all of which are at Level 8 Honours Bachelor Degree:

• BSc in General Nursing (RGN)
• BSc in Mental health Nursing (RPN)
• BSc in Intellectual Disability Nursing (RNID)
• BSc in Children's and General (integrated) Nursing

Higher Education CAO Entry These programmes are offered through Higher Education Institutions (HEls) in association with the main Healthcare Agencies (Hospitals/Clinical Sites) Public Health Nutrition, Public Health Sciences at NFQ level 8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Development 

A Nurse (RGN) who is not registered as a midwife (RM) with NMBI must also complete a Child & Maternal Health module. Successful completion will entitle you to apply for registration with NMBI register for public health nursing (RPHN) and an award from a (HEI) Higher Education Institution.

Postgraduate Study Options:

• NUIG NUI Galway Health Sciences (Public Health Nursing)
• UCD Nursing (Public Health)
• UCC Public Health Nursing
• ATU St. Angela's College Sligo Community Mental Health Nursing

Search post graduate courses

Career pathways

Following qualification as a registered public health nurse there are several career pathways available:

• Management grades: assistant director of public health nursing and onwards to director of public health nursing grade
• Progression to Clinical Nurse Specialist or Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Specialist areas of work e.g. schools, immunisation, lactation consultant, tissue viability

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €39k - €82k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience, and pay scales for HSE staff.

Data Source(s):
HSE.ie/ Indeed

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The Slaintecare Action Plan 2023 highlights that an additional 4,592 nurses/midwives were employed in the health service since 2020; funding for an additional 149 posts for advanced nurse and midwife practitioners has also been secured. In addition, the Minister for Health has announced funding for 854 additional nursing posts.44 Over 3,000 new employment permits were issued for nurses in 2022, primarily for staff nurses. This reliance on supply from outside of Ireland has resulted in an increasing share of nurses who are non-Irish citizens (at over 30% in quarter 4 2022).

Vacancies for nurses appeared frequently in the vacancy data in 2022 (both DSP and OVATE) and difficult-to-fill vacancies in the Recruitment Agency Survey included for staff nurses, theatre, ICU, oncology, nurse managers. Supply from the higher education system is expected to increase, with the announcement in Summer 2023 of an additional 208 places on nursing courses to be made available in Irish higher education institutions and a further 200 places reserved for students from the Republic of Ireland, to be delivered in Northern Ireland. Nonetheless, given the duration of training programmes, demand for nurses is likely to continue to outweigh supply leading to a continued shortage, with replacement demand alone for such a large occupation contributing to continued job openings.

• Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)

  • 18-20 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
  • (01) 639 8500 LoCall 0818 200 116
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, HSE Dr Steevens’ Hospital

  • Dublin DO8 W2A8
  • 01 635 2471
  • Click Here