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What Does an Environmental Health Nurse Do?

As an environmental nurse, you recognize and treat illnesses like cancer, asthma, and tuberculosis caused by environmental factors including:

• Water and air quality
• Toxicology
• Infectious diseases
• Chemical hazards
• Food safety

You apply the scope of your knowledge to provide public health-oriented assessment, intervention, and evaluation for the optimal well being of individuals, families, and communities. Providing education is a vital part of this job as well.

Education and Training Required to Become an Environmental Health Nurse

If you're new to health care, you'll need to get a RN degree with specialized training in environmental health. You can get your two-year associate's degree or three-year hospital-issued diploma and then go for the RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). Alternately, you can go to one of many four-year degree programs in environmental health nursing to get your BSN.

There are traditional environmental health nursing degree programs as well as online degree program options. Either way, you must complete clinical rotations and take a licensure exam after your studies in order to practice nursing.

Typical Characteristics of an Environmental Health Nurse

Environmental health nurses should be knowledgeable about both human physiology and how it interacts with various natural and chemical elements. As educators, environmental health nurses should be aware of potential household risks--such as lead paint--as well as environmental factors like air pollution.

Because there is a public health component to their job, environmental health nurses should be able to advocate for change when necessary and help communities develop healthier ways of living.

High Demand for Environmental Health Nurses

Because environmental health concerns are at an all-time high, nurses that specialize in this field are in great demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the rate of employment growth for nurses to be 22 percent through 2018, and says that RNs with specialized degrees should be especially sought after. Nurses earned an median annual salary of $62,450 in May 2008.

If you are concerned with improving the specific and general health of people in your community, environmental health nursing is a direct and powerful way to affect change.