"Public Health" is the new nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello,

Nursing has been a long journey for me. I started volunteering at a hospital when I was 16 and knew I wanted to be in healthcare. Within the past 10 years, I received my AAS in pre-nursing, became a CNA, graduated from an LPN program. I am currently trying to get into my school's bridge program but of course, it's on a space-available basis on their current RN program. I love nursing and I know I'm not "old" but I'm almost 30 and would like to settle down in my career. After obtaining an RN in this state (since I have an LPN, I have 3 more quarters to go, if accepted), I have the option of going to a university and finishing my BSN for one more year, which I do hope/plan to do. (I've been told that BSN will be required for nurses working in a hospital by 2020, 2 years ago and this statement still stands true...at least in my state). I'm studying for TEAS and currently applying with that however I was offered another option for my career path.

The school I attended is one of the up and coming schools in the state. According to the director, it was upgraded from a "community college" to an "institute" (not sure how that matters). The area surrounded the school is funded by wealthy families and businesses (some which are nationally known). The hospitals have been great with funding and because of their help, I was very fortunate to attend that school with new nursing equipment for the labs. Anyway, I was told by a teacher that someone on the board of trustees is working closely with the school to develop a bachelor's program for public health. The CEO of the hospital nearby has declared that public health nursing will be the trend in the up and coming years as bed side nursing continues to decline. Part of me feels torn bc public health seems to be SUCH an exciting career (health education for the public) but I do enjoy bedside nursing. I'm already aware of how jaded and exhausted I would be once I am lucky to become an RN. At this point, I'm continuing to my research. I would love to be a nurse but the public health bachelor's program is calling me. Anyone know any information about this or the difference between the two? Can I get a bachelor's in public health but get a master's in nursing and still be a nurse?

Thank you! You are all very supportive!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are bachelor's-in-anything-to-MN programs, some reputable, some online and and some online diploma mills (avoid those!!), some online from reputable brick-and-mortar schools with recognized MN programs. You can work as a public health nurse with your BSN; you can take PH coursework in addition to your BSN; you can get a master's in PH after your BSN and be mega-marketable.

Seems to me if you're going to get the BSN (which is more flexible than a bachelor's in PH on top of an associate's in nursing), you might as well get your master's in PH after that. Sounds like a great career path. You are clearly literate and well-spoken and can handle a real master's degree (as opposed to those seductive online programs), so that would be my recommendation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Totally agree with this ^^^^^^^

Keep in mind that the US economy is not altruistic. Healthcare services exist at the mercy of the income that they can produce. At this point, our reimbursement streams are tied to illness treatment and there are very few 'health promotion' initiatives that have stable funding. Many public health initiatives are at the mercy of limited grant funding. When the grant is over, they 'poof away'.

Be sure to explore what "Public Health" actually means in your state/area before you firm up your decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.

Agree with above . . . public health nurses receive about 2/3 of the pay a hospital nurse does. Although in my state, you do not need to have a bachelor's to work in public health, getting a BSN and then MA in PH would increase your pay substantially as you would be more likely to be employed as supervisor of nursing of all the health department programs. I have worked in both. With my working at a health dept in a migrant county, the state paid for my BSN loans. Not only that, after less than a year of working, the state paid for my MA (room, board, tuition, even per diem and weekly salary). Health departments are closed weekends and holidays, which is nice! Sometimes, money isn't everything. Good luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I honestly believe you should get the BSN, however that's just my personal opinion. I think you will be more marketable with an MPH than a Bachelors in Public Health. However, I live in NY. I'm not too sure how things are where you live. I work in Public Health, and the job postings here usually require a BSN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg.
I would love to be a nurse but the public health bachelor's program is calling me. Anyone know any information about this or the difference between the two? Can I get a bachelor's in public health but get a master's in nursing and still be a nurse?

Thank you! You are all very supportive!

Some solid experience taking care of people would be very valuable to someone planning to work in public health.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with the others that BSN and then MPH sounds like the best way to go, however, I disagree with GrnTea's comment about "seductive" online programs. Sure there are reputable programs and diploma mill programs. Most graduate nursing programs are either online entirely or have an online component/hybrid format, even the top universities offer this. Online school is hard. Those who think it's "seductive" are the ones who haven't done it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I agree with the others that BSN and then MPH sounds like the best way to go, however, I disagree with GrnTea's comment about "seductive" online programs. Sure there are reputable programs and diploma mill programs. Most graduate nursing programs are either online entirely or have an online component/hybrid format, even the top universities offer this. Online school is hard. Those who think it's "seductive" are the ones who haven't done it.

The "seductive" was meant to refer to those programs that are too good to be true ... and end up costing you an arm and a leg and an entry in the "XYZ 'University' complaints" threads in Google. :)

I did post a list elsewhere about the top 25 online graduate nursing programs in the US, and there were several responses in the discussion about the methodology for the list, etc., etc., which see. All were reputable brick-and-mortar schools that offered their same education online. None were the for-profit online types that accept Survey Monkey questionnaires as "research" for "masters" "capstones." :: cough cough, ::

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

FWIW, is a non-profit university.

My BSN through WGU cost $7000

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Double post, sorry

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment