Program Objectives
The Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP program prepares graduates to be highly developed clinicians and leaders.
You are prepared to practice in a variety of complex clinical, organizational and educational systems with diverse populations.
Our program gives you the tools to affect changes in health care outcomes through evidence-based decision-making and system redesign.
Graduates meet the following standards:
- Integrate science-based theories and data-based concepts to develop, critically appraise and implement practice approaches that improve health care and health care systems
- Apply organizational theories and systems thinking to improve the quality, cost-effectiveness and safety outcomes of practice decisions and initiatives
- Apply effective strategies for managing the ethical dilemmas inherent in patient care, the health care organization and research
- Apply knowledge of informatics to monitor and improve outcomes, programs and systems of care
- Provide leadership in influencing policies on the financing, regulation and delivery of health care
- Lead interprofessional teams to improve patient and population health outcomes
- Function independently in an advanced nursing role to improve health outcomes in a specialty area of practice
Graduation Requirements
Students entering the program with a bachelor’s degree need to complete a minimum of 62 term hours.
Students who have a master’s degree require a minimum of 47 term hours.
All students must complete the degree requirements within five years.
Clinical experience
The APHN program includes four terms of clinical experience in a population/public health setting. Clinical sites include the following:
- Ambulatory or community services department
- Federally qualified health centers
- Health departments
- Home care or hospice settings
- School-based health centers
The fourth term of clinical experience is residency for project implementation.
One-quarter of your hours will focus on your DNP project. The rest are used to develop advanced public health nursing assessment, planning and leadership skills.
Clinical sites are available at RUSH and throughout the Chicago area.
Distance students work with faculty to find practicum sites. We have successfully negotiated distance practicums, but success is not guaranteed.