Does it make a difference? Exploring the value of combining public health and nursing education.

Abstract

Within the evolving United States healthcare system, there is a need to strengthen the public health nursing workforce. Historical and more recent trends within nursing education have demonstrated this need. Nurses who obtain a Master of Public Health (MPH) contribute to this workforce's development. This study aimed to describe nurses' educational and professional experiences with an MPH and better understand how professionals use this combination in practice. This study utilized a phenomenological, qualitative research method. Researchers interviewed 11 nurses with an MPH via the telephone. The researchers independently coded the interview transcripts and developed a codebook. Qualitative analysis facilitated the emergence of subsequent themes. Four themes emerged: (1) educational pathway decisions, (2) education experience, (3) role in the workforce, and (4) nursing and public health in practice. Participants worked in a variety of settings, including primary care, academia, and administration. All participants reported utilizing their nursing and public health skills and described the actual integration of these skills in the workplace. These findings suggest that nurses with an MPH value the education and report being better equipped to promote health on both the individual and community levels.