Program Coordinator:
Dr. Stephanie Chalupka
Email: schalupka@worcester.edu
Phone: 508-929-8680
Program
Description
The Master of Science in Nursing program offers the Community
and Public Health Nursing specialty track to prepare nurses for leadership as
advanced public health nurses in management, education, clinical practice,
leadership, policy development, and advocacy.
The program offers three
routes of entry for Registered Nurses seeking a Master of Science in Nursing
degree. The pathways to the Master of Science Degree are:
Traditional
Entry: For students with a BS degree in Nursing.
Bridge
Program: For Registered Nurses with a Non-Nursing BA or BS degree.
RN-to-MS Fast Track: For associate-degree or diploma-prepared Registered
Nurses seeking to proceed directly to the Master of Science in Nursing Degree.
The program consists of both coursework and a practicum. This specialty offers
leadership preparation for nurses desiring expertise in population-based
community/public health nursing practice. Students ground their studies in the
science of nursing intervention, public health, and nursing research. They then
focus on courses that examine the basis of assessment and intervention of
populations, integrating the study of health determinants and health
disparities. Practicum experiences are arranged to meet the individual needs of
students while also meeting accreditation and certification requirements.
In addition to completing core studies in the specialty, students also gain
skills in evidence-based practice, program evaluation, informatics,
teaching/learning, health economics, health care policy, environmental health,
and epidemiology. A final project that is a systematic investigation of a
practice problem is planned, implemented, and completed during the program.
Completion of the required community/public health nursing coursework and
practice hours provides eligibility to sit for the Advanced Public Health Nurse
certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
The clinical component of the program allows for students to develop
concentrations in one of the following areas:
· Public Health
· Home Health Care
· Ambulatory Care
· Case Management
· Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing
· School Nursing
· Emergency Preparedness
· Nursing Education
The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (CCNE), One
Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036
Specialty Area Information
The Advanced Public Health Nurse is actively engaged in education (e.g.
community, staff, students, and colleagues), case management, expert clinical
practice, consultation, research, and administration.
The Advanced Public Health Nurse is a leader in population-based health care
practice, and the implementation of this role is based on the American Nurses
Association Public Health Nursing: Scope and Standards for Practice
competencies and will vary across settings. Graduates of this program are
eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center examination for
certification as an Advanced Public Health Nurse.
Professional Opportunities
With increasing demand for health professionals who have expertise in promoting
the health of population groups, graduates of the community health nursing
specialty are well positioned to assume leadership roles in the evolving health
care field. The Community and Public Health Nursing area of study provides a
foundation of knowledge and practical experiences in the following areas:
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public health sciences including biostatistics, environmental health,
epidemiology, systems thinking, leadership, informatics, health policy and
management.
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advanced population-focused assessment, program planning, and intervention,
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advanced development and evaluation of health promotion programs,
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approaches to work with culturally diverse and high-risk populations,
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social justice and social action, and
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emergency preparedness.