What Nurses Can Do to Enhance Their Professional Careers

Earn an MPH Degree for New Opportunities in 健康careBy 玛丽亚·沃尼克博士.D., crnp, fnp-bc
Assistant Professor, Public 健康 Program


Earn a Master of Public 健康 Degree for New Opportunities in 健康care

The health of our communities is dependent upon both the skill and expertise of primary care providers and of public health professionals. 不幸的是, these two disciplines are often hidden in their own silos, and collaboration is difficult.

A public health 教育 除了…之外 nursing degree allows a vision of health care through a different lens, to better recognize health disparities and the subsequent health inequities that contribute to poor health.

例如,a Master of Public 健康 degree 除了…之外 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) provides the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) the ability to break down these silos and broaden their understanding of how health is achieved for the person by improving the health of the community. The NP who understands that the health of their patients has little to do with actual health care and more to do with where our patients live, 工作, 吃, and play can provide a holistic level of care, resulting in better patient and community health outcomes.

Should Nurses Get an MPH?

Earning a Master of Public 健康 (MPH) degree can be an invaluable asset for nurses. With the healthcare industry ever evolving, nurses with an MPH can be the difference-makers their organizations need. There are several reasons to consider pursuing an MPH.

  • It offers knowledge and skills essential in tackling today's public health challenges.
  • A nurse MPH provides the tools to develop programs that combine clinical practice and public health principles, allowing nurses to address health needs more comprehensively.
  • Nurses with an MPH may find opportunities to specialize in areas such as epidemiology or health 教育, which can lead to advancement in the field of nursing.
  • Being involved in public policy initiatives serves as a reminder about ethical decision-making and regulation of high-quality care.
  • Having an understanding of healthcare man年龄ment gives insight into resource allocation that might have previously been unavailable before obtaining your MPH.


Career Opportunities with an MPH Degree

An MPH broadens the career opportunities for NPs outside of the patient care clinic. Positions in public health, 教育, 研究, and health policy development are all roles the advanced practice nurse with a public health background can pursue to improve health at the population level in new and impactful ways.

A registered nurse (RN) can also benefit from an MPH degree, expanding your career opportunities both in and out of clinical practice.

Top Public 健康 Careers for Nurses  

  • Public health educator
  • Infectious disease man年龄r
  • Community health nurse
  • Public health nurse
  • Research associate
  • 健康倡导者
  • 健康 administrator
  • Nurse educator (for NPs)

You might 工作 in settings such as: 

  • 医院
  • Federally Qualified 健康 Center (FQHC)
  • Community-Based Organizations
  • Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public 健康 服务 (USPHS)
  • Pharmaceutical companies (this industry commonly hires NPs)

 

摆脱电子游戏mg官方网站 GMercyU的 Master of Public 健康 Degree

Make this the year you advance your career! GMercyU的 英里每小时计划 was designed with 工作ing professionals in mind — offered online, you can earn it as a part-time or full-time student. It’s the only program of its kind in the Philadelphia area to f吃ure a 健康 Equity concentration, which will prepare you to advocate for disadvant年龄d communities and populations in the U.S. 及以后.

It will also prepare you to sit for the CHES (Certified 健康 Education Specialist) credential exam before entering the 工作force, a valuable certification when applying for a job in public health. Learn more about the 这里的公共卫生硕士项目.