HSE call for nurses to consider career in public health nursing to make a difference for patients in the community

The HSE is seeking nurses and nursing graduates to consider a career in public health nursing. Applications for the HSE Public Health Sponsorship Programme are now open. The programme will equip nurses with the necessary skills to progress their career in public health Nursing and make a difference in the community.

The programme is open to nurses registered with the NMBI, and runs for 1 academic year starting in September each year. Three higher education institutions provide postgraduate public health nursing programmes – UCC, UCD and UoG.

Clodagh Brackett, a UCC student public health nurse based in Blackrock in Cork city, joined the Student Public Health Nurse Sponsorship Postgraduate Programme in September 2024. Clodagh gained experience of working in both the hospital environment and in the community while completing a Graduate Nurse Rotation Programme. “When I complete the public health nurse course I’m hoping to work in South Lee, close to where I grew up. There’s a great variety of work in the community and you get lots of support from colleagues who are always willing to help. I enjoy the autonomy in the job. You have your own caseload and there is continuity of care for the patients.”

Public health nurses provide many of the health or social care services found in the community, outside of hospitals. They provide care in the home, the clinic, local schools, as well as virtual telehealth channels.

Grainne Ryan, National Lead for Public Health Nursing, HSE Office of the Nursing & Midwifery Services, said, “Public health nursing services aim to deliver safe, quality and person-centred community nursing care across a person's life. The service is committed to promoting health and wellbeing and enabling people to live healthy, fulfilled lives.

“The recruitment and retention of public health nurses is a significant priority for us. I’d encourage nurses to consider the sponsorship programme that opens today. It is an academic programme which will equip them with the necessary skills and experience to take the next step in their career.”

Lorraine Cleary works as a Public Health Nurse in Grangegorman in Dublin having previously worked in the Kidney Transplant Unit in Beaumont Hospital. Lorraine also spent nine years working in Australia in various roles, most recently as a Clinical Nurse Manager. During her time in Australia she had the opportunity to work within the community setting. This insight, subsequently led her to apply for the role of PHN.

“I enjoy the autonomy of working as a PHN managing your own caseload while also being part of a supportive team”. Lorraine has recently completed a Master’s in Public Health Nursing and looks forward to the next stage of her career.