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Public Health Nursing Job Task Analysis

What is a Job Task Analysis?

A Job Task Analysis (JTA) is a systematic, evidence-based process used to identify the essential knowledge, skills, and responsibilities required for effective professional practice. In certification development, the JTA serves as the foundation for defining competency standards and ensuring that an examination reflects real-world practice.

For the Public Health Nursing (PHN) certification, the JTA defines the day-to-day work of public health nurses across diverse settings, populations, and roles. It ensures that the PHN certification exam is grounded in contemporary public health nursing practice and aligned with the realities of the workforce

Why the PHN Job Task Analysis Matters

Public health nurses play a unique and critical role in protecting and improving population health. Unlike clinical nursing roles focused on individual patient care, public health nursing integrates clinical expertise with public health science, systems thinking, and community engagement.

The PHN Job Task Analysis:

  • Establishes a national, practice-based standard for public health nursing
  • Clearly defines the distinct competencies that differentiate public health nursing from other nursing and public health roles
  • Provides a transparent and defensible foundation for certification
  • Ensures the PHN certification exam reflects current, real-world practice

By grounding certification in a validated JTA, NBPHE affirms public health nursing as a distinct professional discipline with specialized expertise and responsibility.

How the PHN Job Task Analysis Was Conducted

NBPHE conducted the Public Health Nursing Job Task Analysis in Spring 2025 with funding support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The results of this national survey directly informed the PHN exam content outline and the weighting of domains included on the certification exam.

The process included:

Development of a comprehensive survey based on preliminary task and competency identification

Nationwide survey distribution to practicing public health nurses

Participation by more than 1,400 public health nurses representing a wide range of roles, geographic regions, and practice settings

Quantitative analysis to validate the importance and frequency of identified tasks

PHN Job Task Analysis Domains

The PHN Job Task Analysis identifies seven core domains that collectively represent the scope of public health nursing practice. These domains form the blueprint for the PHN certification exam.

The JTA survey results informed the development of the Content Outline for a public health nursing certification program.

Domain 1

Assessment and Analysis (20%)

Focuses on the systematic collection, evaluation, and interpretation of data to identify health needs, emerging threats, and opportunities for intervention. Public health nurses apply surveillance data, population health indicators, and evidence-based assessment tools to monitor trends and anticipate challenges.

Domain 2

Planning and Implementation (12%)

Addresses how public health nurses use data to plan, develop, and implement programs and services that promote equity, improve social conditions, and enhance community preparedness and resilience.

Domain 3

Policy, Advocacy, and Partnerships (10%)

Covers collaboration across sectors, policy development, and advocacy efforts that address population health needs, improve access to care, and drive systems-level change, particularly for marginalized and under-resourced communities.

Domain 4

Communication and Cultural Competence (19%)

Emphasizes culturally responsive communication, health literacy, trust-building, and inclusive engagement strategies. Public health nurses tailor messaging and communication approaches to diverse communities and contexts.

Domain 5

Leadership and Management (11%)

Addresses strategic planning, team leadership, resource alignment, mentorship, and program sustainability. This domain reflects the leadership responsibilities public health nurses assume across organizations and systems.

Domain 6

Systems and Foundational Knowledge (19%)

Highlights the application of public health frameworks, epidemiology, evidence-based practice, and systems thinking to reduce disparities, address systemic barriers, and advance health equity.

Domain 7

Quality and Evaluation (9%)

Focuses on continuous quality improvement, program evaluation, performance monitoring, and adaptive interventions to ensure public health services remain effective, equitable, and responsive to community needs.

From Job Task Analysis to Certification Exam

The PHN Job Task Analysis directly informs:

  • The PHN Exam Content Outline
  • Item writing and exam development
  • Exam weighting and scoring
  • Ongoing review and updates to reflect evolving practice

Following completion of the JTA, NBPHE began the structured process of exam development, including item writing by trained public health nurse volunteers. The next step in the exam development process is review of the items by public health nursing volunteers, psychometric review, and standard setting to establish a valid and defensible passing score.

A Practice-Based Foundation for Professional Recognition

The PHN Job Task Analysis ensures that the Public Health Nursing certification is grounded in practice, shaped by the workforce, and aligned with the real responsibilities public health nurses carry every day.

By defining and validating the competencies of public health nursing, the JTA supports professional recognition, workforce development, and the continued advancement of public health nursing as a distinct and essential discipline.

Learn more about the Public Health Nursing Certification Program.

The PHN JTA Report

The PHN JTA validation survey results support the domains and task statements developed during the job analysis meeting, confirming that they provide a defensible and accurate representation of competent practice in public health nursing. This outcome establishes a foundation for the examination specifications developed through the JTA process, ensuring that they accurately reflect the responsibilities of PHN professionals. The Job Task Analysis Committee approved the content outline and domain-level distribution via email on September 12, 2025. Additional exam details, including the total number of scored and pilot items, remain under discussion.

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