Sacramento County Public Health (SCPH) honors National Nurse Appreciation Week by spotlighting the essential work of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) – licensed Registered Nurses with PHN certification who serve on the frontlines of community health. These professionals treat and prevent illness, investigate its spread and walk alongside residents during some of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives.
"Public Health Nurses are vital to the public health response system," said Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye. “They see the early signs of health issues others might miss, respond with urgency and help us reach residents who might otherwise fall through the cracks.”
PHNs deliver care that improves outcomes for families across the County. They help first-time mothers through pregnancy, guide families through childhood health challenges and intervene when infectious diseases threaten to spread. Their work strengthens individual lives and the broader public health system that protects the entire community.
PHNs are critical to a myriad of impactful programs throughout SCPH and in the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services:
- Nurse Family Partnership: PHNs build one-on-one relationships with first-time mothers, offering regular home visits, parenting support and early childhood education.
- Black Infant Health and African American Perinatal Health: PHNs provide culturally informed care to reduce birth disparities and bolster long-term infant health.
- California Children’s Services: Medical Case Management nurses coordinate specialty care for children with conditions like cancer, cerebral palsy and genetic disorders. They provide access to board-certified specialists and school-based therapy services.
- Chest Clinic: PHNs work with patients who have active tuberculosis disease to ensure appropriate and safe treatment through case management and home visits.
- Communicable Disease: PHNs help the team track and respond to disease outbreaks by investigating reported cases, coordinating treatment, and partnering with hospitals, schools and laboratories to contain the spread.
- Immunization Assistance Program: PHNs ensure access to immunizations for all children. During outbreaks, they mobilize quickly to protect at-risk populations.
- Community Nursing: PHNs visit homes to support pregnant individuals, medically fragile children and families facing housing or access challenges.
- Child, Family and Adult Services: PHNs provide nursing assessment, consultation and care coordination in Child Protective Services and Senior and Adult Services.
PHNs bring clinical expertise and a public health mindset to every interaction. They reduce hospitalizations, lower long-term care costs and help residents avoid preventable health crises. Their focus on education, early intervention and care coordination keeps families healthier and the public health system stronger.
Sacramento County urges residents to #ThankANurse and recognize the professionals working every day to protect the health of the community during Nurse Appreciation Week and beyond.
Learn more about Public Health Nursing services.