Public Health Nursing Administration

The Public Health Nursing Administration track prepares professional nurses to assume advanced practice nursing roles in a dynamic and complex health care environment. Specific health care settings and programs where the skills and knowledge of public health nursing administration are utilized include the following settings:

• Public health agencies at local, state, & national level
• Community centers and clinics
• Correctional facilities
• Long term care settings
• Occupational health settings
• Schools
• Wellness centers

Students have an opportunity to focus their practice in a public health setting or a community agency that provides services to a specific population group. Advanced practice roles in public health include the following roles:

• Administrator
• Evaluator
• Consultant
• Researcher
• Case Manager
• Program Planner
• Home health clinician

Leadership, strategic planning, and a vision for community building in rural, underserved, and culturally diverse communities are the characteristics of advanced nursing practice in this track.

Deadlines for application in the College of Nursing are:

For Fall admission: April 1
For Spring admission: August 1
For Summer admission: February 1

The College of Nursing will accept applications after the deadline on a space available basis.

Online Curriculum: Now that this program is fully online, it is ideal for nurses in remote areas and for those who are bound by work and family obligations. The interactive online classroom provides opportunities for discussion, multidisciplinary debate and problem solving, research, and community building.

Financial Aid is available. Admission applications can be processed quickly and consideration given to the individual's specific goals. Information about traineeships can be found at the College of Nursing web page.

Core courses in leadership, theoretical foundations of advanced nursing, economics and health policy, and research serve as the underpinnings to prepare the student in advanced practice nursing. The track's specialty courses are epidemiology, biostatistics, and administrative theory pertaining to planning, organizing, and facilitating human performance. A course in disaster management provides the student with an opportunity to develop knowledge and skill required to effectively apply techniques and interventions during disasters including disasters resulting from bioterrorism.

The last two semesters in the track focus on specific theory and concepts related to assessment of health needs and concerns of population groups and communities. Students focus their projects on the planning, financing, development, and evaluation of interventions that support health care providers and communities in their efforts to prevent disease and make health care accessible. The student completes a clinical practicum of 180 hours and a culminating internship of 240 hours. The practicum and internship are implemented through a preceptorship with a master's prepared professional nurse. During the practicum, the student designs a model for professional development as a public health nurse administrator as well as a plan for assessing the specific needs of a population in a health care setting. The data obtained in the practicum direct the student’s development of an intervention plan.

Public Health Nursing Administrator Curriculum

• Public Health Administrator Post BSN Track (MSN)
• Condensed schedule of study - Fall Admission
• Full-time schedule of study - Fall Admission
• Full-time schedule of study - Spring Admission
• Full-time schedule of study - Summer Admission  
• Public Health Administrator Accelerated MSN Track
• Public Health Administrator RN to MSN for Associate/diploma RN’s
• Public Health Administrator RN to MSN for associate/diploma RN’s with a BS/BA degree in a non-nursing discipline
• Fall admission schedule of study
• Spring admission schedule of study
• Summer admission schedule of study
• Public Health Administrator Post Master’s Certificate

Faculty

Alice Godfrey, Assistant Professor agodfrey@usouthal.edu
Dr. Karen Hamilton, Clinical Assistant Professor khamilton@usouthal.edu

For Additional Information

Graduate Studies
USA College of Nursing - HAHN 3086
5721 USA Drive N.
Mobile AL 36688-0002
(251) 445-9400
Email: congrad@usouthal.edu
Fax 251-445-9416

The MSN programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington, D.C. 20036-1120
Telephone 202-887-6791

USA offers nurse educator classes to those students wishing to pursue a career in academia. These courses are a subspecialization that can be added onto your current degree plan. Please click this link to learn more:
Nursing Education

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