Hi there,

I just started my first nursing job as a junior PHN at my local health department. I only have an ADN in nursing and am looking to continue my education. Should I get a BSN first or shall I go for a BS in Public Health? What about a certificate in public health? Any advice welcome! By the way I prefer online courses as well.

Many thanks!

Interesting, I would like to know as well. I am an LPN that has college level courses (I graduated from an LPN to RN bridge program where it was required that we take most of the same pre-requisites). I just visited a school yesterday evening and the gentleman told me that it really didn't matter...that anyone with a nursing background (he meant LPN or RN) would probably advance a bit quicker than those with just the BS in Community Health Education because of their solid foundation on disease. He stated that a Health Educator that is a nurse would probably obtain a position in supervising the others. He didn't give the impression (and believe me, I asked) that it was imperative that I even become an RN, which was good news to me.

I think that you should visit the school and speak to a faculty member of that particular department to have more specific questions answered, but if it is the same everywhere, you'd probably be fine with the ADN.

Thanks for discussing this topic. I'm starting an ADN program in January, so I was considering enrolling in a grad-level course, Foundations of Public Health, this fall to see what the MPH program at my local university is like (I already have a BA in political science). My plan is to then get my RN and graduate in Dec. 2011, and continue with the MPH -- perhaps even taking an MPH course each summer between ADN semesters.

Am I naive in thinking that a new RN (actually a pre-nursing student now) could handle starting coursework toward an MPH at the same time? I'm wondering about future career opportunities, too, provided this all goes well -- whether someone with an ADN degree and an MPH (but no BSN) could find a worthwhile position.