Introduction
Our Advanced Public Health Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice program provides you with the skills to assess, plan and evaluate interventions for entire populations.
Advanced public health nurses, or APHNs, are a bridge between clinical health care and public health prevention initiatives.
You will learn the following to help you improve the health outcomes of populations in complex systems:
- Data-based program and policy development
- Health promotion and primary prevention
- Population assessment and epidemiology
- Program management and evaluation
- Stakeholder engagement and intervention sustainability
Rush's Approach: Advanced Public Health Nursing Program
You learn from faculty who are active practitioners in a variety of community-based organizations.
This means all of our faculty have clinical experience that will enrich your learning.
We offer tracks for both bachelor’s and master’s-prepared nurses.
Advanced Public Health Nursing Program Length and Location
Our program is offered full- or part-time. It takes approximately 3 - 3 ½ years (part-time) or 2 - 2 ½ years (full-time) to complete for students with a bachelor’s degree.
Students with a master’s generally complete the program in three years (part-time).
Most coursework takes place online.
All students are required to be on campus for the following activities:
- DNP project proposal presentation: Two days, just before beginning DNP project implementation (third term of clinical work)
- DNP project final presentation: Two days (generally) during the last term of the program
Advanced Public Health Nursing Program Tuition
At Rush University, we know your education is a big investment. We want to make sure you have all the information to be able to make the best financial decisions for you and your family.
Tuition for the Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP program is $1,344 per credit hour.
Learn about student financial aid options.
Heide Cygan, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, discusses her passion for public health and the intersection of health and the environment on the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments podcast.
Get a firsthand perspective about the College of Nursing experience from our students and alumni.
Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP Career Opportunities
Our graduates are prepared to be leaders in a wide variety of public health roles and settings. Our alumni hold leadership positions in the following settings:
- Local and state health departments such as the Alaska Department of Public Health
- Professional organizations such as the American Lung Association and the Joint Commission
- Population health program including the CDC Foundation
- School health settings like Chicago Public Schools
- And a variety of other community-based settings such as faith-based organizations and federally qualified health centers
Further, our students are nationally recognized for their expertise through election to leadership positions in a variety of professional nursing organizations including:
- The Association of Community Health Nurse Educators
- The Association of Public Health Nurses
- The National Association of School Nurses
- The National Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association
- The Illinois Pioneer Coalition
Careers in nursing are expected to grow 40% from 2021-31. This is much faster than the average for other professions.
Elizabeth Miranda
Admissions Specialist
elizabeth_m_miranda@rush.edu
(312) 942-6986
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