Advanced Public Health Nurse Track

As an Advanced Public Health Nurse (APHN), you will:
* be educated in nursing, social, and public health sciences.
* understand the population-focused care of vulnerable populations in rural areas.
* possess advanced skills and knowledge for leadership positions.

As a graduate of the APHN Track from the UND College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines, you will be able to:
* integrate theories, research, and experiential knowledge into APHN practice.
* demonstrate advanced practice skills in the provision of population-focused care, consistent with American Nurses Associations Scope and Standards of Practice for Public Health Nursing.
* assume the roles and behaviors of an advanced public health nurse.
* utilize research to effectively improve the care of populations, consistent with the APHN role.
* effect change in public health nursing using leadership, management, and teaching strategies.
* collaborate with other disciplines and partner with communities to improve health and healthcare and to influence health policy for vulnerable rural populations.
* contribute to the development of public health nursing policy, nursing practice, and the profession.

Certification Exam
After successful completion of your program, you will be eligible to become certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an Advanced Public Health Nurse.

NOTE: If you already have your master's degree in nursing, you may pursue your APHN certification with the online Post-Master's Certificate program.

Degree Requirements
* Non-Thesis Option = 40 Credits
* Thesis Option = 42 Credits

Below is a list of the required courses for the Master of Science - APHN Track. Your advisor will assist you with developing a specific program of study that meets UND's degree requirements.

* Required Core Courses = 38 Credits


NURS 500 - Theories & Concepts in Nursing

The focus of this core course is on analysis of current nursing and related theories and concepts which guide clinical practice, curriculum development, research, and nursing administration.

NURS 502 - Evidence for Practice

This course emphasizes the application of basic research concepts to the building of evidence-based practice in nursing. Advanced competencies are developed in searching and evaluating the literature, examining the merit of different types and levels of evidence, and analyzing the generalizability and implications for clinical practice.

NURS 514 - Essentials in Epidemiology

This course will emphasize the application of the principles of epidemiology as applied to the investigation and prevention of individual and population health problems. Students will evaluate care delivery models and analyze epidemiological data to develop and apply strategies for health promotion and disease prevention for individuals, aggregates, and populations. The core competencies will focus not only on the practice of public health, but also enhance practice for the clinician.

NURS 523 - Health Promotion

Paradigms in health promotion, health detection and disease prevention across the lifespan are used in the synthesis of theory and research-driven primary care interventions. A clinical/laboratory component is included.

NURS 526 - Ethical, Legal, & Health Policy Issues

This course emphasizes health policy issues within the context of legal and ethical concepts. Students will examine and debate health policies in current practice, thus broadening their ability to analyze, implement, and evaluate health policy issues.

NURS 546 - Advanced PHN I

This course introduces concepts that are foundational to Advanced PHN practice and population health. The community assessment process and program planning and implementation are a major focus of the course. Evidence-based PHN interventions at the individual/family, community, and systems levels are analyzed.

NURS 547 - Advanced PHN Practicum I

The focus of this course is on application of foundational concepts of Advanced PHN practice. Students will conduct a community assessment and based upon the analysis of the assessment, develop a population health program plan that will address the concerns identified in the assessmen,t and incorporate evidence-based Advanced PHN interventions. Written and oral communication skills are emphasized. A clinical/laboratory component is included.

NURS 548 - Advanced PHN II

This course focuses on the leadership role of Advanced PHN practice. Public health and community-based organizational assessment, program monitoring and evaluation, quality improvement, and management of multiple projects are emphasized. Concepts of leadership in public and community health and collaborative interdisciplinary practice are discussed. Health policy, law, and ethics as they relate to public health are explored. In addition, Advanced PHN leadership in rural areas and in disaster/emergency preparedness and management are discussed.

NURS 549 - Advanced PHN Practicum II

This courses focuses on implementation of Advanced PHN interventions, including obtaining sources of funding to support intervention programs.

NURS 550 - Global Public Health Issues

This course focuses on population health issues at a global level. Differences in population health status between developing and developed countries are explored. Special emphasis is placed on war as a public health issue and the global impact of AIDS.

NURS 572 - Diverse Vulnerable Populations

Students will explore a wide range of concepts as they apply to diverse and vulnerable populations. The focus of the course is on understanding concepts and principles important to nursing when doing research, planning health care, developing health policy, and teaching in this area.

NURS 592 - Advanced PHN Practicum III

This course provides a capstone experience in Advanced PHN practice. Students are expected to integrate knowledge from all of their previous coursework into an applied practicum experience in population health and to evaluate population health programs.

* Completion of Thesis or Non-Thesis Option = 2-4 Credits


NURS 997 - Non-Thesis Option: Independent Study

Prerequisite(s): Prior approval of instructor required before enrollment.

NURS 998 - Thesis

Prerequisite(s): Prior approval of instructor required before enrollment.

A maximum of ¼ of the total credits required for the graduate program may be transferred to UND from another regionally accredited program. These credits must be approved by your academic advisor and the UND School of Graduate Studies.

* Bachelor's degree in Nursing from a National League for Nursing (NLN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program. * Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 2 years of your undergraduate program.* * Completion of a statistics course (undergraduate or graduate level).* * Current RN licensure in the United States. * Minimum of 1 year of experience as a registered nurse (preferred).* * Professional résumé. * Completion of a successful interview. * Satisfactorily complete a background check prior to admission. * Meet health and immunization requirements of the UND College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines prior to clinical coursework.*If you do not meet these nursing program admission standards, you may be admitted on a provisional basis with continued enrollment contingent on successful completion of prerequisite coursework and/or successful performance in the program English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 76

Accreditation

CCNE Accreditation
The on-campus and distance nursing programs offered by UND College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

CCNE accreditation:

* ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate education programs preparing effective nurses.
* supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing education programs.
* promotes continued growth and improvement of collegiate professional education.

Regional Accreditation
The University of North Dakota as a whole is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. UND has been accredited since 1913, when the Association was first organized.

Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation assures the quality of higher education institutions and programs. In the United States, accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental, peer-review process that determines if established quality standards are being met.

* Accreditation is a major way for students, families, employers, government officials, and the media to know that an institution or program provides a quality education.
* Accreditation helps students choose quality college programs that qualify for federal financial aid.
* Accreditation enables employers to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared. Many employers will only provide tuition assistance to employees for accredited programs.
* Accreditation is used by registration, licensure, and certification boards to screen applicants.
* Accreditation gives colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve the quality of their programs.