Public health nursing focuses on promoting and protecting the health of populations through nursing, social, and public health sciences. Core competencies are important because they help public health nurses provide effective care, address health challenges, support communities, respond to emergencies, and adapt to changes in healthcare.
The California Directors of Public Health Nursing (DPHN) developed core competencies that outline the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed for successful public health nursing practice. These competencies support workforce development, professional growth, and effective job performance. They were created using feedback from DPHN members statewide and are based on recognized national public health and nursing standards.
The competencies are organized into nine domains and three progressive tiers:
- Tier 1 (Front Line/Entry Level): Basic competencies expected of all public health nurses, focused on individuals, families, and groups.
- Tier 2 (Program Management/Supervisory Level): Includes Tier 1 plus more advanced competencies focused on communities and populations.
- Tier 3 (Senior Management/Executive Level): Includes Tiers 1 and 2 plus advanced leadership competencies focused on systems-level practice.
Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) are responsible for providing professional development opportunities for public health nursing staff. Competency development also occurs through daily practice, mentoring, coaching, and managerial support. These competencies help create a culture of continuous learning and professional growth in public health nursing. The document also includes summaries of each competency domain and sample checklists for tracking progress.
DPHN Core Competencies for Public Health Nursing