Advanced Public Health Nursing (DNP) Program Details

The Advanced Public Health Nursing (APHN) DNP program is available to both bachelor’s and master’s-prepared nurses. We also offer an option for primary care advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) looking to develop knowledge and skills to enhance population health outcomes.

Study Format

Classes are offered online. Typically programs maybe completed as follows:

• • The BSN to DNP option can be completed in three and a half years for part-time students, and two and a half years for full-time students.
  • The MSN to DNP option for non-APRNs can be completed in three years for part time students

Sample Plan of Study (BSN to DNP)               Sample Plan of Study (MSN to DNP) 

Campus Visits

All students are required to be on campus for the following activities:

• College and Program Orientation - two day on-campus orientation (usually September).
• DNP Project proposal presentation - done just before beginning DNP project implementation (third term of clinical work) and usually two days.
• DNP Project final presentation - done in the last term before graduation and usually two days.

Clinical Experiences

The clinical experience for the APHN program consists of 4 terms of clinical in a population/public health setting. Clinical sites might include health departments, federally qualified health centers, school based health centers, home care or hospice settings, or the ambulatory or community services department of health care systems.

We work directly with students to find the site to best meet your learning needs in your home community. For local students, clinical sites are available throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Each student’s advisor will work with students to acquire clinical practicum placements and preceptors that meet program requirements. We recommend that you begin planning your clinical practicum experiences early. Rush has been successful in negotiating most distance clinical practicum contracts, but success is not guaranteed. Rush may need to be recognized as a provider by the board of education and the board of nursing in your state.

Clinical practica hours are a total of 1176 clock hours. These hours will be divided over four terms, with the fourth term consisting of a residency, for project implementation. Your DNP project will comprise approximately 1/3 of these hours, with the remaining hours being used to develop Advanced Public Health Nursing assessment, planning and leadership skills.

Common Applicant Questions for all Nursing Programs