question about public health

dunno if this question has been posted before,but anyway,i am interested in public health.my ultimate goal is to get my BSN,how do you get into the specific field of public health?should the college you apply to have a public health program? or get certification in public health after your BSN?An MSN in public health also looks nice.

I have an MPH (masters in public health) and am looking to get a BSN. I would recommend getting an MPH since you will already have a BSN. I have seen some master's programs as you suggested that focus in public health nursing, but I think MPH programs are much more common and just as acceptable, plus, then you will have a social sciences degree to go along with a human/hard sciences degree.

dunno if this question has been posted before,but anyway,i am interested in public health.my ultimate goal is to get my BSN,how do you get into the specific field of public health?should the college you apply to have a public health program? or get certification in public health after your BSN?An MSN in public health also looks nice.

Here in Utah most of the BSN programs offer a Certification in Community Health Nursing or Public Health Nursing, whichever wording is correct. I was under the impression that most BSN programs through out the country offer that certification but I may be wrong.

I am not sure how it works in TN, but generally all BSN programs require a community/public health rotation. Unfortunately not all CHN/PHN rotatations are equal. I was really shortchanged in my undergrad program with the instructor I had but I had a really good preceptor who demonstrated one of the roles of Public Health Nursing (PHN).

My undergrad was in a different state than my current residence in CA so I can only tell how it works here. In CA after graduation you are awarded additional certification after passing your NCLEX-RN for a PHN licensure. As I graduated in a state other than CA I had to take a quick at home Child Abuse course for the State.

After graduation you can chose what area you would like to work in within community/public health. Whether it be in a clinic or for a health department, or a school based setting. These are all community health.

I have recently completed a dual degree program here in California for a Master of Science in Nursing and a Masters of Public Health. It was a wonderful program and there are several in other states as well. You may want to look at those at CSULB (my alma mater) and Johns Hopkins.

Good luck!

dunno if this question has been posted before,but anyway,i am interested in public health.my ultimate goal is to get my BSN,how do you get into the specific field of public health?should the college you apply to have a public health program? or get certification in public health after your BSN?An MSN in public health also looks nice.

Can I enter into public health nursing bein an RN? I am going for my Associates at CCBC Essex.

thank you

As far as I know, only if you have a 4 year degree in something else, or many years experiences as a registered nurse. You can always work for some hospital and get THEM to pay for you to finish your BSN, and then go for PHN.

Can I enter into public health nursing bein an RN? I am going for my Associates at CCBC Essex.

thank you

I'd definitely like to get a MPH someday soon. Just need to get off my behind and study for the GRE first. :)

For those of you in public health, what do you like about it?

WhatToDo: What made you decide to go back and get your BSN? What job opportunities as your MPH given you..if you don't mind me asking? Did you ever think of working for CDC or the WHO? I am interested in public health and have just graduated nursing school with my BSN.