[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Health Policy Nurse Career in Brief[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurses help shape healthcare policy by advising policymakers and advocacy organizations on public health and nursing issues. They must understand how healthcare delivery systems and healthcare policy interact.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurse job responsibilities include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Health Policy Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurse jobs usually involve more office and desk work than direct patient care nurse jobs. See below for common workplace settings.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Government Agencies[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurses analyze potential changes in healthcare and public health policy, identify likely impacts, and write reports and white papers.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Public Health Non-governmental Organizations[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurses conduct advocacy efforts, examine updates and modifications in policy, educate the public, and partner with collaborators to promote specific policies or approaches.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Healthcare Providers or Trade Associations[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurses help research and explore possible policy changes and its impacts on stakeholders, communicate with stakeholders, and work with lobbyists and public relations/communications teams.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Health Policy Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurses can help shape healthcare and public health at a systems level, an important work that can be immensely satisfying. However, the role rarely involves direct patient care, which is why many nurses may not enter the profession. Health policy nurses must also often deal with bureaucracy and political partisanship.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Health Policy Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background” header=”Certification Options for Health Policy Nurses”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Certified Public Health Administrator (CPHA)”] The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.phpcb.org/index.htm” target=”_blank”]CPHA credential[/hen-ui-link] requires at least three years of administrative and supervisory health administration experience, respectively. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree, though not necessarily in public health. [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”National Healthcare Disaster Certification”] This credential designates healthcare professionals who have participated in disaster planning or response in the last 24 months, hold at least three years of healthcare experience, and have earned certain FEMA certifications. Exam topics include disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Advanced Public Health Nursing Board Certification (PHNA-BC)”] This certification is available for renewal only and is not open to new applicants. Individuals with the PHNA-BC designation can renew their credential through ongoing professional development, including 75 hours of continuing education. [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Graduate Certificate in Health Policy”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] Health policy nurses may have the option to complete graduate certification programs in areas like [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursing.gwu.edu/graduate-certificate-health-policy-and-media-engagement” target=”_blank”]health policy and media engagement[/hen-ui-link] or [hen-ui-link href=”https://online.uc.edu/certificates/health-care-policy-regulations-graduate-certificate/” target=”_blank”]healthcare policy and regulation[/hen-ui-link]. [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Health Policy Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health policy nurse salaries vary widely based on education, job responsibilities, and workplace. While the average annual salary for a [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Health_Policy_Analyst/Salary” target=”_blank”]health policy analyst[/hen-ui-link] is $64,130, those with an MSN in health policy can expect to earn an average [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_in_Nursing_(MSN)%2C_Health_Policy_%26_Management/Salary” target=”_blank”]yearly salary[/hen-ui-link] of $111,500. In contrast, RNs earn a median annual salary of $75,330.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing jobs are projected to grow by 7% between 2019-2029, much faster than the national average for all occupations combined. U.S. health policy involves many stakeholders, including governments, healthcare providers, public health organizations, philanthropies, and healthcare trade associations, all requiring health policy nurses to help accommodate growth and change.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific Salary Data” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How long does it take to become a health policy nurse?[/hen-ui-heading] It takes at least six years of education to earn an [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/types-of-masters-degrees-in-nursing//”]MSN degree[/hen-ui-link], plus the required nursing experience for admission into an MSN program. While it takes four years to earn a BSN, most health policy nurse jobs require or strongly prefer candidates with an MSN or a DNP. [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Why is healthcare policy important in nursing?[/hen-ui-heading]Healthcare policy affects every aspect of public health. Policy shapes nursing licensing requirements, staffing and regulatory requirements for hospitals and other healthcare providers, public funding for healthcare, healthcare accessibility, responses to pandemics and disasters, and vaccination requirements. [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How can nurses affect healthcare policy?[/hen-ui-heading] Nurses hold direct experience with healthcare delivery, and nursing is the [hen-ui-link href=”https://news.gallup.com/poll/328136/ethics-ratings-rise-medical-workers-teachers.aspx” target=”_blank”]most trusted profession[/hen-ui-link] in the U.S., giving nurses exceptional credibility. Health policy nurses with clinical experience have seen and directly responded to healthcare policy’s impact, gaining a unique understanding of how policy affects individuals. [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What is a health policy residency?[/hen-ui-heading]Many healthcare policy [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/best-online-msn-programs/”]MSN programs[/hen-ui-link] include a residency. Residencies provide hands-on experience at policy organizations or organizations with major policy functions, such as governments, think tanks or foundations, trade associations, and public health providers. These opportunities give health policy nursing students direct experience as they develop a professional network.[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Health Policy Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.apha.org/” target=”_blank”] American Public Health Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] APHA publishes books, white papers, a journal and newsletters; conducts policy review and advocacy; offers an annual conference and other professional development activities; and provides networking opportunities. Membership is open to any individual with an interest in public health, public health organizations, and solutions providers.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″] Association of Public Health Nurses[/hen-ui-heading] This association advances the public health nursing profession by promoting high practice standards and continuing education. APHN hosts an annual conference and offers group and individual memberships for public health nurses, students, public health staff, and stakeholders.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.oonl.org/” target=”_blank”] Organization of Nurse Leaders[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] ONL is a professional association for current and aspiring nurse leaders in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Members can enjoy professional development resources, including classes on leadership, attend quarterly and annual meetings along with networking events, and explore new job postings on an exclusive job board.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aonl.org/” target=”_blank”] American Organization for Nurse Leadership[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] AONL highlights certification programs and other resources for nurses in leadership or executive positions and provides professional development and continuing education opportunities. The organization also conducts advocacy efforts and publishes newsletters and a journal.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”36820,34237,33931,34426″][/hen-ui-article-row][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Nicole Galan, RN, MSN” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/e_grayscale/v1599580499/experts/Nicole_Galan.jpg” img-alt=”Nicole Galan, RN, MSN” layout=”horizontal” background=”none” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Nicole Galan is a [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/”]registered nurse[/hen-ui-link] who earned a master’s degree in nursing education from Capella University and currently works as a full-time freelance writer. Throughout her nursing career, Galan worked in a general medical/surgical care unit and then in infertility care. She has also worked for over 13 years as a freelance writer specializing in consumer health sites and educational materials for nursing students.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Galan is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]