Community health nursing salary information

Definitions of community health nursing vary. The Canadian province of Alberta's government website offers a description of community health nursing that includes these duties, along with many others:

• Assess the needs of individuals, families, groups or communities throughout their lifespan
• Plan, implement, evaluate and document nursing care
• Coordinate patient care
• Provide direct nursing care, manage, lead and supervise nursing teams and advocate for clients
• Develop and deliver health promotion, disease prevention and education programs

Community health nursing salary data

It is somewhat challenging to gather information on the average community health nursing salary, as neither the Bureau of Labor Statistics nor the American Nurses Association uses this exact term. However, it appears to be commonly acknowledged that community health nurses need at least to be registered nurses, and salary information for these is available.

The ANA calculates that in 2005, 14.9 percent of all RNs worked in "community/public health" environments. The BLS reports that in May 2009, the nationwide median annual salary of all RNs was $66,530, which translates into a mean hourly wage of $31.99. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $93,700. Advanced practice registered nurses--those who have at least a relevant master's degree plus advanced skill certifications--can expect to earn significantly more than other RNs.

The BLS lists these as the five top-paying states for RNs in May 2009, with their mean annual wages:

ExploreHealthCareers.org, which partners with national foundations, professional associations and educational institutions, estimates the 2011 salary for public health nurses at between $51,000 and $55,000, with an excellent job outlook. Although public health nursing wages may not exactly match a community health nursing salary, this information suggests a promising career outlook for community health nurses.