Meet the Proficient Protectors of Public Health (posted May 12, 2025)

By Adam Behnke, Communications Specialist for Brown County Public Health

Editor's note: The adjoining photo of our Nursing Unit does not depict the entire team. Three additional individuals complete the unit, and their contributions are equally important. It's just difficult to have so many people available at the same time for a group photo!

As National Nurses Week ends today, we wanted to mention the incredible work being done by the dedicated nursing professionals at Brown County Public Health (BCPH). These health care heroes work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect and promote our collective health through a wide range of programs. The work is usually unseen by the public, but the impact is huge! 

This (early!) edition of the Healthy Herald is not a complete list of every single initiative within the Nursing Unit, but an effort to highlight a lot of the wonderful work done day in and day out.  

Helping People Get Vaccines 

The Nursing Unit gives important shots to help stop people from getting sick. In 2024, they gave 767 vaccines to 236 people. The unit held 14 clinics, including some specifically for kids, and big flu shot events. The nursing unit also worked with local clinics and pharmacies to make sure adults could get their shots, too. 

Because of their hard work, more children in Brown County are getting the shots they need. Now, 79% of 2-year-olds have all their shots, which is a higher percentage than the year before! 

Helping Women Stay Healthy 

The nurses run the Wisconsin Well Woman Program, which helps women who don’t have enough money to pay for important breast and cervical cancer tests. In 2024, they helped 187 women sign up for these tests. Nurses also call new clients to make sure they have what they need and answer their questions. 

Fighting Tuberculosis (TB) 

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a sickness usually of the lungs that can spread to others. The nurses check on people who might have TB, teach them about the disease, and make sure they take their medicine. In 2024, they helped with 6 cases of tuberculosis. They also help plan the Wisconsin Tuberculosis Summit, which is a big meeting held every year where experts share information about stopping TB. 

Teaching About Sexual Health 

The Nursing Unit helps people learn how to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They work with other community groups and organizations to spread the word, hand out free condoms, and make it easier for people to get tested and treated. In 2024, they also started a new group called the Brown County STI Prevention Workgroup to help the effort even more. 

Stopping the Spread of HIV 

Nurses help people who have HIV, a virus that attacks the body's immune system, and work to stop the disease from spreading. They give advice, help people get tested, and connect them with other services if needed. They also help people in counties near to Brown County. 

Protecting Kids from Lead Poisoning

Lead is a dangerous metal that can hurt children’s health. The nurses help families whose children have lead poisoning by teaching them how to keep their homes safe, giving them cleaning supplies, and helping them get medical care. Last year, 92% of the families who worked with the nurses saw their children’s lead levels go down.

The nurses also work with a group called the Brown County Lead Coalition. They hand out books and go to events to teach families how to keep their children safe from lead.

Boosting Breastfeeding

Nurses at Brown County Public Health help moms who want to breastfeed their babies. They answer questions, give tips, and help moms feel confident. In 2024, they helped 46 families with breastfeeding support. Nurses also give out information at clinics, events, and on the phone, so moms have the help they need to feed their babies.

Watching Out for Diseases

The Nursing Unit keeps track of sicknesses that can spread from person to person or spread to people from animals or the environment. These are known as communicable diseases. In 2024, they followed up on more than 4,300 reports of these diseases. Staff members call people who are sick, help them get care, and teach them how to keep others from also getting sick. They also work with schools, daycares, and doctors to stop outbreaks before they get bigger.

Stopping Rabies

Rabies is a very serious disease that people can get from animal bites, like from a dog, cat, or bat. Staff make sure people who are bitten get the right care. Last year, they helped with 385 animal bite cases. They talk to people who were bitten, check if the animal has rabies, and help people get protective shots if they need them. There were no human cases in 2024, although one bat tested positive for rabies.

Safe Ways to Get Rid of Household Sharps

Some people use needles at home for medicine, like for diabetes. It’s important to throw these needles away safely so no one gets hurt by them. Nursing Unit staff teach people the right way to get rid of needles and sharps. They give out free containers for needles and have a drop-off program so people can safely get rid of their used needles. In 2024, the Household Sharps Program collected 11,751 pounds for proper disposal!

Thank you, Nursing Unit!

The Nursing Unit at Brown County Public Health does so much to help our community. They give shots, help families, teach people many ways to improve and protect their health, and work to stop sickness from spreading. Brown County Public Health is very grateful for all they do! Thank you for caring for our community!

Stay Healthy, Brown County!