I have been browsing through threads and came across some that were helpful but I needed more clarity on my question. I have a BS in Public Health and I am interested in becoming a Public health Nurse. I have been going back and forth with where I should be and where I should go and I am now at a Community College taking science courses. I am feeling that I need to get my Bachelor's in nursing instead of an Associate's. So my question is, to become a public health nurse should I get my BSN and then my MPH?
I hope someone can help me so I can get on with my degrees. I'm so frustrated.
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
BSN is preferred in my county but I was recently hired with my ADN. I believe my experience was considered too which had two years in community health.
Suggest you contact an advisor in the school of nursing at SJSU and discuss this. SJSU offers the PHN with their BSN. I don't know, offhand, which schools, if any, in the LA area offer PH, but that info might be available on the BRN link that lists the accredited RN programs in CA. The advisor at SJSU would be able to tell you what schools down in the Southland could help you out with the education to allow you to get the certificate. HTH
I have eight years experience in Public Health with my Guard unit. When I intially joined at the age of 17 I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, didn't really have the the intention of staying in the Guard, and used the bennies to whiz my way through college graduating with a BA in Business Admin in 2006, which I have not really "used". Shortly after graduating I became a wife and stay at home mother.
Now I am interested in pursuing a career outside of the Guard full time in the Public Health field. I think what education I've had with the AF and the experiences I had in trainings will help me along, and it is something I enjoy and do well.
So I already have a BA in Business, and an AAS in Public Health Technology from the CCAF and I don't know what schooling I should pursue next to ACTUALLY get into Public Health in the civilian world.
I have started on pre-reqs for ABSN programs, but am also considering just doing an MPH (after I get over my fear of the GRE). The main problem is financing this...I can only get further loans for graduate work. My concern over doing a nursing degree first, is that it will take a very long time (wait-lists) and alot of $ I don't really have. If I agree to work for a hospital by signing a contract with one school I've talked to in order to help finance the BSN, then I getting off path of pursing Public Health as well.
Do I seriously need to get a second bachelor's/BSN to get into Public Health somewhere in the civilian world? Are there many health educator/community health positions for non-RN's with an AAS in PH, and an MPH?
My instructor in the Health Science Department stated that you can't really expect to get anywhere without the MPH as a minimum. That had been my goal at one time.
my instructor in the health science department stated that you can't really expect to get anywhere without the mph as a minimum. that had been my goal at one time.
i agree. i went back to school and graduated with my mph last month. i truly love public health and public health nursing. if your goal is strictly to work in public health (and not public health nursing), then the minimum you need to get anywhere in this field is an mph degree. fyi, not all programs require the gre. my program was completely online and ceph (council on education for public health) accredited, and did not require the gre for admission.
i agree. i went back to school and graduated with my mph last month. i truly love public health and public health nursing. if your goal is strictly to work in public health (and not public health nursing), then the minimum you need to get anywhere in this field is an mph degree. fyi, not all programs require the gre. my program was completely online and ceph (council on education for public health) accredited, and did not require the gre for admission.
i completed the online mph at florida international university (miami, fl). the online mph is a generalist degree. if you want to specialize, you can, or you can complete a graduate certificate simultaneously. in addition to the mph, i also obtained a graduate certificate in health promotion and disease prevention and became a ches (certified health education specialist).
Does anyone know if BSN graduates from UNC can apply for a PHN certificate? I'm confused about this. I had never heard anything about a PHN certificate until today. Thanks!
Does anyone know if BSN graduates from UNC can apply for a PHN certificate? I'm confused about this. I had never heard anything about a PHN certificate until today. Thanks!
Are you referring to ANCC's Advanced Public Health Nursing (APHN-BC) certification?
At first I looked at those certs, but the community health one has been retired and I don't have a masters, so I can't be a clinical nurse specialist. I'd just seen several people on here say that after their BSN program, they could apply to their BON for a public health certificate, but I don't think they have that in my state. Thanks!
HeartsOpenWide, RN
1 Article; 2,889 Posts
I have my PHN. I am a RN-BSN. The BSN is considered entry level for public health nursing. It would be a smart move. Not many nurses in public health