Monica Harmon, MSN, MPH, RN, is a public health nurse, educator, and researcher. Harmon is convinced that community factors and social issues manifest in chronic disease. Harmon asserts health care practitioners must consider all determinants of health when addressing population health needs. Cognizance of these influencing factors and willingness to address the many challenges prohibiting optimal health for the populations we work with is at the forefront of Harmon’s practice. She utilizes this knowledge to guide her practice, research and teaching.
Harmon has practiced professionally in various settings, working with vulnerable and marginalized populations within in-patient pediatrics, home health, prisons, schools and group and retirement homes. Research activities include studying detained adolescent females in Philadelphia, maternal and child fatalities, diversity in nursing and community/public health nursing practice and education. Currently, Harmon is a co-investigator of grant-funded research focusing on competency-based workforce development of public health nurses and baccalaureate nursing faculty.
Harmon has shared her public health and nursing knowledge and skills with public health undergraduate and graduate nursing students in the community/public health, maternity and pediatrics in the clinical and didactic areas. Harmon imparts her knowledge of how the determinants of health impact marginalized and minoritized communities. Harmon teaches CPR and First Aid to health care workers and community members alike and has presented workshops on various topics to community groups.
Harmon is a member of various professional organizations. These organizations include the Pennsylvania Action Coalition, where she serves as Co-Chair of the Nurse Diversity Council and the National Black Nurses Association. She is the current Chapter President of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association.
Professional Society
Pennsylvania Action Coalition
Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association
Selected Publications
Harmon, M. (2021). Why care in the community must be our guide. The Black Frontline, November, 2021. https://medium.com/@theblackfrontline?p=df740f71a58e
Harmon, M., Joyce, B. L., Johnson, R. G. H., Hicks, V., Brown-Schott, N., & Pilling, L. (2021). Mixed-method analysis of the quad council competencies for public health nurses. Public Health Nursing, DOI:10.1111/phn.13009
Harmon, M., Joyce, B. L., Johnson, R. G. H., Hicks, V., Brown-Schott, N., & Pilling, L. (2021). Reemergence? Disconnect between research priorities and population health. Nursing Outlook, S0029-6554.
Adeniran, RK, Jones, D, Harmon, MJ, Hexem-Hubbard, S, & Gonzalez, E (2020). Checking the Pulse of Holistic and Culturally Competent Nursing Practice in Pennsylvania. Holistic Nursing Practice.
Roepke, A, D’Ambrosia, S, Harmon, M, & Frasso, R. (2020). Does it make a difference? Exploring the value of combining public health and nursing education, Journal of Professional Nursing, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.12.007.
Research Interests
Community/public health nursing, public health nursing competency, public health workforce development, nurse diversity, nursing education, population health, community-academic partnerships
MSN, Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA
September 2007
MPH, Drexel University Graduate School of Public Health
Post-MPH Certificate; Biostatistics & Epidemiology
Philadelphia, PA
May 2006
BSN, Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA
May 2001
AASN, Community College of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
May 2000