RN looking into public health with MPH

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Specializes in Psychiatric RN.

Hi everyone - I've been combing through any posts about RNs with MPHs with little success in getting the answers I'm looking for. Maybe a fresh post will help!

Question: Are there any RNs with an MPH, or are in school for an MPH? What opportunities have come up for you? What made you decide to go for MPH vs MSN or MSN/MPH.

Here's some background to my situation:

  • I'm an RN with 7 years of experience. Last 5 years have been dedicated to community and mental health.
  • At some point in my career, I want to get my masters - I'm leaning for the MPH with the following goals/mindset:
    • I feel like I can do enough patient-care as an RN. I'm not really interested in being an NP at this point. I like the collaboration I can do with the providers that I work for - we might not see eye-to-eye, but it  gives me an opportunity to voice my concerns and go up the chain-of-command to ensure patient safety. For the most part I have good relationships with my colleagues.
    • I do want to do an administrative role at some point and I feel like MPH gives me more opportunities in the event I want to do a career change out of nursing
    • Might also consider roles related to policy implementation and advocacy at the government-level. I got big goals and at the end of the day I'd like to do more for all nurses. The pandemic has definitely shed light on what nurses deal with on the daily.
    • I think the MPH degree will help me communicate with non-nursing stakeholders on nursing/healthcare-related concerns.
    • I know there are dual-degree MSN-MPH programs, but given my current work-life balance and the goals, I want to go for my MPH. MSN I can always go back when I'm ready. I can't cram as hard as I did when I was going for my BSN hah. 

If you're not comfortable in posting here, would love to hear your story by e-mailing me at [email protected]

TIA~

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Hello, I'll be in school getting my MPH this Summer. I have worked in a public health for the last 6 years. I'm looking to work with large government public health entities. I'm really excited for this degree!

Honestly, you don't need your NP degree, just have the clinical experience as an RN in public health -that is more than enough. PM if you need anymore information. 

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On 3/20/2022 at 8:03 PM, xbananachipsx said:

Hi everyone - I've been combing through any posts about RNs with MPHs with little success in getting the answers I'm looking for. Maybe a fresh post will help!

Question: Are there any RNs with an MPH, or are in school for an MPH? What opportunities have come up for you? What made you decide to go for MPH vs MSN or MSN/MPH.

Here's some background to my situation:

  • I'm an RN with 7 years of experience. Last 5 years have been dedicated to community and mental health.
  • At some point in my career, I want to get my masters - I'm leaning for the MPH with the following goals/mindset:
    • I feel like I can do enough patient-care as an RN. I'm not really interested in being an NP at this point. I like the collaboration I can do with the providers that I work for - we might not see eye-to-eye, but it  gives me an opportunity to voice my concerns and go up the chain-of-command to ensure patient safety. For the most part I have good relationships with my colleagues.
    • I do want to do an administrative role at some point and I feel like MPH gives me more opportunities in the event I want to do a career change out of nursing
    • Might also consider roles related to policy implementation and advocacy at the government-level. I got big goals and at the end of the day I'd like to do more for all nurses. The pandemic has definitely shed light on what nurses deal with on the daily.
    • I think the MPH degree will help me communicate with non-nursing stakeholders on nursing/healthcare-related concerns.
    • I know there are dual-degree MSN-MPH programs, but given my current work-life balance and the goals, I want to go for my MPH. MSN I can always go back when I'm ready. I can't cram as hard as I did when I was going for my BSN hah. 

If you're not comfortable in posting here, would love to hear your story by e-mailing me at [email protected]

TIA~

I'm currently enrolled in an online MPH program. I've always been interested in public health and wanted a back-up plan in case one day I decided I wanted to do something other than nursing. However, there are many opportunities to work as a public health nurse through state health departments and other similar organizations. I chose to pursue an MPH right now because I really liked my program and the fully online format. If I decide later on I want to do an MSN that's always a possibility. I think that having an MPH and a BSN definitely gives you an edge when applying for public health jobs since an MPH curriculum is focused on all aspects of public health.  This was my thought process when choosing an MPH over a MSN. 

 

 

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When I went to grad school I considered MPH and MSN as well as other options.  There is also the MPA (Master of Public Administration) that may be useful if you're really going to pursue government jobs.

You might want to look at job postings that you think you might be interested in after graduation and see what the requirements are.  If they say something like "MSN or equivalent required" then MSN vs. MPH might not matter?

I disagree that the MPH gives you greater opportunity to pursue admin jobs.  Plenty of nurses with MSN work in admin.

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