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Community / Public Health Nursing


Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Online Program

  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate

Admission Guidelines

The Role
The focus of advanced practice in Community / Public Health Nursing (C/PHN) at Rush is population based, with interventions directed to the population/community as a whole. Students who enroll in the C/PHN concentration develop skills in assessing, planning and evaluating nursing interventions for individuals, families and aggregates/populations. There is strong emphasis on health promotion, primary prevention, and program management.

The Program
The uniqueness of this competency-based, on-line program is its availability to students across the nation and its commitment to the promotion of health in multiple community settings. Two study options are available to meet student interests. The first option is for students interested in a population-focused practice and includes course work that emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention for diverse populations across the lifespan. The second option is for students who are interested in developing and managing programs that deliver care to individuals and groups in community-based settings. All students will gain skills in case management, disaster preparedness, environmental hazard assessment, and health policy. Courses are available on-line, with two compressed weekend on-site courses.

The Faculty
Rush College of Nursing faculty are highly experienced practitioner-teachers with doctoral and master's degrees and certification in their specialties. The Practitioner-Teacher model at Rush allows faculty to maintain and enhance their clinical expertise and apply it to research and academic programs. Faculty are nationally known in their various areas of expertise and are actively involved in professional organizations. Faculty are also well published and frequently speak at regional, national and international professional meetings.

Faculty contact for the C/PHN CNS or Post-Master's Certificate
Susan Swider, PhD, RNC
312-942-8826
Susan_Swider@rush.edu

Clinical Sites
A unique feature of this program is the structured clinical experiences in the student’s community. Faculty provide local preceptors with the tools needed to maximize the quality of each student’s experience to ensure competency achievement. Examples of possible practice sites include: official public health agencies, community health centers, school nursing sites, occupational health sites, home health and hospice agencies, American Indian health centers, and social service agencies that serve the underserved.

Career Opportunities
Graduates are prepared as leaders for a wide variety of specialties including public health, rural health, occupational health, school health, home health and hospice, and health care for the homeless. National and local employment needs continue to exceed the number of nurses prepared as leaders in these public health nursing specialties. Nurses in the community with advanced preparation in public health nursing are in a strategic position to influence and shape health care delivery.

Certification and Accreditation
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the CNS certification examination in Public/Community Health Nursing at the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center.

To apply or for further information contact
College Admission Services
600 S. Paulina - Suite 440
Chicago, IL 60612
312-942-7100
312-942-2219 fax
Rush_Admissions@rush.edu
www.rushu.rush.edu/nursing/admission.html

Community/Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Online Program of Study
Credit
Graduate Nursing Core
2
 *NUR 501 Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice
2
 *NUR 502A Issues in APN Role Development
2
 *NUR 502B Implementation of the APN Role
3
 NUR 510 Biostatistics
3
 NUR 521 Research for Advanced Practice
3
 NUR 522 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Diverse Populations
2

BHV 505

 Interdisciplinary Studies in Palliative Care ((offered every qtr., add to sample program of study below)
1
 NUR 548 MSN Capstone Project
18
 Credit hours
Advanced Practice Nursing Core
3
 HSM 560 Health Care Policy
3
 BHV 528 Major Psychopathological Disorders
2
 NUR 520 Case Management Across the Health Care Continuum
2
 NUR 567 Understanding Financial and Business Concepts
3
 NUR 575 Applied Epidemiology
13
 Credit hours
Cognate Options
(A) Care of Populations
3
 BHV 522 Child and Family Development Throughout the Lifespan
3
 NUR 543 Community Strategies in Adolescent Health
3
 BHV 553 The Older Adult
3
 BHV 535 Basis for Environmental Health
3
 NUR 573 Frameworks for Health Promotion
(B) Community Clinical Management
4
 *PHY 551 Advanced Physiology I
4
 *PPH 512 Advanced Pathophysiology II
4
 *NUR 503 Physical Diagnosis: Assessment & Evaluation Across the Lifespan
3
 *NUR 530E Pharmacotherapeutics: Primary Care
15
 Credit hours
Speciality Curriculum Content
2
 **NUR 532N Population Health Assessment and Planning
2
 **NUR 532P Population Health Program Implementation and Evaluation
12
 NUR 541 Master's Practicum
2
 NUR 600 PHNS residency is 240 clock hours. Additional residency hours may be required by area of concentration and/or individual student needs. Student must register for 2 credit hours per quarter until the residency hours are completed.
18
 Credit hours
64 Total Credit Hours

All courses are web-based. In addition:

* These courses may be taken on campus, if desired.

** These courses require a weekend visit to campus.

Please note: All programs of study are subject to change.

Community/Public Health Nursing Clinical Nurse Specialist
Sample Program of Study
Community Clinical Management - 8 quarters
 
Fall
 Winter Spring Summer
  3 BHV 528 3 NUR 567 2 NUR 520 4 PPH 512
  2 NUR 501 3 NUR 510 4 PHY 551 3 NUR 575
  3 NUR 522 3 NUR 521 2 NUR 502A  
Total 8 credit hours
 9 credit hours 8 credit hours 7 credit hours
  2 NUR 532N
 2 NUR 532P 2 NUR 502B 4 NUR 503
  3 HSM 560 3 NUR 541 3 NUR 530E 1 NUR 548
  3 NUR 541
3 NUR 541 3 NUR 541
 2 NUR 600
Total 8 credit hours 8 credit hours 8 credit hours 7 credit hours
Part-Time Program of Study - 12 quarters
Year Fall Winter Spring Summer
1 3 NUR 522
3 NUR 521
 2 NUR 502A
 3 NUR 575
  2 NUR 501 3 NUR 510 4 PHY 551 4 PPH 512
Total 5 credit hours 6 credit hours 6 credit hours 7 credit hours
2 3 HSM 560
 2 NUR 567
 2 NUR 520

4 NUR 503
  3 BHV 528
3 NUR 530E
  
Total 6 credit hours 2 credit hours 5 credit hours 4 credit hours
3 3 NUR 532N
 2 NUR 532P
 2 NUR 502B 1 NUR 548
  3 NUR 541 3 NUR 541 6 NUR 541 2 NUR 600
Total 6 credit hours 5 credit hours 8 credit hours 3 credit hours

 

Community/Public Health Nursing Clinical Nurse Specialist
Sample Program of Study
Care of Populations - 8 quarters
 
Fall
 Winter Spring Summer
  3 BHV 528 2 NUR 501 3 BHV 522 3 PPH 573
  3 BHV 553 3 NUR 510 3 NUR XXX 3 NUR 575
  3 NUR 522 3 NUR 521 2 NUR 502A 3 NUR 543
Total 9 credit hours
 8 credit hours 8 credit hours 9 credit hours
  2 NUR 532N
 2 NUR 532P 2 NUR 502B 1 NUR 548
  3 HSM 560 2 NUR 567 2 NUR 520 2 NUR 600
  3 NUR 541
3 NUR 541 6 NUR 541
  
Total 8 credit hours 7 credit hours 10 credit hours 3 credit hours
Part-Time Program of Study - 12 quarters
Year Fall Winter Spring Summer
1 3 BHV 528
3 NUR 521
 2 NUR 502A
 3 NUR 573
  2 NUR 501 3 NUR 510 3 BHV 522 3 NUR 543
Total 5 credit hours 6 credit hours 5 credit hours 6 credit hours
2 3 HSM 560
 2 NUR 567
 2 NUR 520

3 NUR 575
  3 BHV 553 3 NUR 522
 3 NUR XXX
  
Total 6 credit hours 5 credit hours 5 credit hours 3 credit hours
3 2 NUR 532N
 2 NUR 532P
 2 NUR 502B 1 NUR 548
  3 NUR 541 3 NUR 541 6 NUR 541 2 NUR 600
Total 5 credit hours 5 credit hours 8 credit hours 3 credit hours