UC College of Nursing launches Public Health Nursing doctoral program

According to the recently published “The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity” report, the next 10 years will demand a larger, more diversified nursing workforce prepared to provide care in different settings and in address the lasting effects of COVID-19, break down structural racism and the root causes of poor health and respond to future public health emergencies. The report also emphasizes the need to prepare nurses to practice in community settings, such as schools, workplaces, home health care and public health clinics. While the pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of health care, its impacts on nursing may be the most profound, as demand for nurses’ skills are more needed than ever.

With this is mind, the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing has launched a Public Health Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, designed to prepare nurses to apply evidence from research to design and to implement and evaluate public health programs at the highest level of academic education. The online program focuses on the implementation of evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems leadership in public health initiatives at the local, state, federal and global level.

The clinical knowledge public health nurses possess, coupled with the unique relationships developed with those they serve, assist in designing and implementing programs and policies to meet the needs of vulnerable populations and provide a sound basis for public health leadership positions in public health systems, government agencies and non-governmental organizations that aim to improve health at the community level. In addition to working with communities, these nurses work behind the scenes planning activities, managing budgets and evaluating the effectiveness of public health programs.