Public Health grad degree??

meluhn · May 30, 2009

An MSN can be in public health among other things like clinical administration, research, education, not to mention the nurse practitioner tracts. There are many different types of MSNs, you just have to figure out what interests you and what you want to do when you are done.

minneRN · May 30, 2009

I've had the same questions linger in my mind for quite some time. Not sure how the academics would look at an MPH over an MSN. With that said, I know plenty of nursing professors that opted for an MPH over MSN and went on to Doctoral studies. I think it depends on what you want to do. MPH are more data oriented, statistically inclined minds. I'd love to hear other thoughts.

Another thing: the only MSN program with a public health nursing track that I know of is in Minnesota. At the University of Minnesota. However, to my knowledge, they are no longer doing MSN programs and going straight from BSN to DNP or PhD professional degrees.

I myself will go for the MPH. I love data, numbers, and analysis.

pshs_2000 · May 30, 2009

Hi. I just finished up a MPH program. I've been an RN for about a year and a half. I had the option of doing a dual MSN (community health)/MPH (generalist) program, but chose to just go for the MPH. Many professors and advisors said that the advantage of having the MSN over the MPH is that you would be eligible at many nursing schools to teach. But since I'm just a "baby nurse", teaching is not something I'm interested in right now. MPH programs are more analytical, focus on policy, community based interventions, etc. Just like the MSN, you can chose different concentrations for the MPH like epidemiology, addiction studies, infectious diseases, health equity/disparities, health management, international health, etc. Like minneRN said, many MSN programs are being phased out so it might be better to go with a MPH... Hope this helps

Katie82, RN · May 30, 2009

Hi all-
Quick question: Would a good grad degree for a nurse, be public health? Or do you think it might be wiser to to just go for a MSN?
Would love to hear your thoughts.

Use your grad degree in a field that interests you. Unless you are planning to teach, you don't necessarily need a MSN. I looked into MSN programs, but I already had 20 years of nursing experience, and at that point what would I have learned from a MSN program. I would have loved MPH, since I have a strong Public Health background, but I got my degree online, and at the time there were no good MPH programs that were offered online. I ended up getting a MS/MBA in Healthcare management and have never regretted it. I learned a whole new side of healthcare not understood by a lot of nurses, and it has never prevented me from getting the certifications/jobs I wanted. Go for what interests you....