MPH question

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Im am finishing up my bs in biology, and was planning on doing a ABSN program, but am thinking about doing a peace corps masters international program (1 year of MPH courses, 2 years abroad working on global health, then return and do a masters paper) then going on after that to the ABSN program. Any reasons i should do the nursing first? I think the MPH and peace corps time will allow me to help people who need it and learn a lot at the same time. the MPH (all programs im looking at have a health education, population health, minority health or similar concentrations) will give me a lot of knowledge to work with in nursing school. For some background on me, i want to be a public health nurse then go on and get my family np degree and practice primary care and focus on prevention. any feedback is appreciated, thanks!

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Specializes in Int'l, Disaster, PH, Rural/frontier, acu.

have you looked into the Peace Uni (UN) in Costa Rica? http://www.upeace.org/

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I havent seen it before, but it appears not to have a public health degree option. I saw your response on the other thread and it was helpful. do you think doing the peace corps and an MPH before nursing school will help me out in nursing school.... or will being a nurse be more help while getting my MHP. or is it all a matter of where i get in and personal preference?

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Specializes in Int'l, Disaster, PH, Rural/frontier, acu.

Hi benm93..no, not an MPH at UPeace, but a masters in peace - how cool is that?!...I think all life experience helps out:)..The question is what do you want and why? Emory offers a combo path - nursing w/ MPH...The Peace Corp will be magnificent...How much time do you have before a pay check is pressing? Nursing will get a job most anywhere (not necessarily your ideal, but a job) and might help to support a MPH...so many considerations that only you can decide...Where do you see yourself working, what do you see yourself doing, who are you working with, how much are you getting paid, and what does your day look like?...Then build what you want from your dream...you go after where you want to get in - not where 'they' let you in...you are the designer of your own life:)...Why don't you take on the Peace Corp - that is a 2 yr. commitment - right?...I have an idea that you will discover a great deal about what you want from that experience and you can be applying to the school of your dreams while working...too, a Peace Corp assignment is a real resume builder:)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

i have some time... im 21 and (in a couple months) will have a BS in Bio, and am fortubate to be debt free (right now...) so i am feeling flexible

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

I will keep this short and sweet (since I'm at work). I am a RN with the MPH and a returned PC volunteer. I tend to agree with N4NI: apply to the Peace Corps for the fall and see where it takes you! If you are truly interested in nursing, many colleges and universities offer financial assistance to returned PC volunteers. A lot of these institutions, such as Johns Hopkins, have accelerated BSN programs. My experience is that few positions will value both your nursing education/experience AND your public health education/experience. I have friends who graduated with the MPH in the spring and they landed health educator positions with insurance companies with no previous health care experience. My MPH program (and many others) focused on "churning out" researchers and NOT practitioners. IF you are interested in pursuing the MPH, I HIGHLY recommend you select either biostatistics or epidemiology. These two areas of public health are in HIGH demand. Drop a PM IF you have more questions!

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Specializes in Public health nursing.
Im am finishing up my bs in biology, and was planning on doing a ABSN program, but am thinking about doing a peace corps masters international program (1 year of MPH courses, 2 years abroad working on global health, then return and do a masters paper) then going on after that to the ABSN program. Any reasons i should do the nursing first? I think the MPH and peace corps time will allow me to help people who need it and learn a lot at the same time. the MPH (all programs im looking at have a health education, population health, minority health or similar concentrations) will give me a lot of knowledge to work with in nursing school. For some background on me, i want to be a public health nurse then go on and get my family np degree and practice primary care and focus on prevention. any feedback is appreciated, thanks!

My circumstances are almost quite similar to yours interests, except my current emphasis is on community health than global health. I have my Bachelors in another field (Public Health Education) and obtained my BSN through an accelerated program. A week prior to graduating (which was very recent too), I started an MPH program and plan to apply for FNP programs as soon as I hit the halfway mark in the program.

Have you tried Loma Linda University in CA? They offer a Peace Corps Master's International and Fellows Program through their school of public health. Their SPH is CEPH accredited, and it is worth noting that LLU has an ABSN program that is CCNE accredited as well. No, I never enrolled in LLU, but I know of people who went there. Based on your interests, I think it is something worth investigating, mind you, the school is a private institution so it'll cost you a pretty penny. Good luck and congratulations on starting your Public Health journey ;)!!

http://www.llu.edu/public-health/peacecorps/index.page

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Specializes in Critical Care.

i have looked there, and will probably apply! two other schools im looking at are private too... so it looks like i wil be paying my share wherever i decide to go.

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