title: The DNP/MPH Dual Degree: An Innovative Graduate Education Program for Advanced Public Health Nursing.
abstract: Strong professional priorities, evolving Affordable Care Act requirements, and a significantly limited public health nursing workforce prompted the University of Colorado College of Nursing to collaborate with the School of Public Health to implement one of the first Doctor of Nursing Practice/Master of Public Health dual degree programs in the nation. Federal grant funding supported the development, implementation, and evaluation of this unique post-baccalaureate dual degree program, for which there were no roadmaps, models, or best practices to follow. Several key issues emerged that serve as lessons learned in creating a new, novel higher education pathway for Advanced Public Health Nursing. This paper highlights two of those: (1) marketing, admission, and matriculation across two programs, and (2) enhancing curricula through distance coursework and interprofessional education. When collaboration with a school of public health is possible, the Doctor of Nursing Practice/Master of Public Health dual degree is an efficient way to prepare public health nurses' with the highest level of public health knowledge, practice, and leadership expertise.
authors: University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado.
authors: Kathy
authors: K
authors: Shaw
authors: University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado.
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Harpin
authors: University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado.
authors: Geraldine
authors: G
authors: Steinke
authors: University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado.
authors: Marilyn
authors: M
authors: Stember
authors: University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado.
authors: Marilyn
authors: M
authors: Krajicek
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000193:education*; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012581:Schools, Public Health / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
keywords: DNP/MPH dual degree; PHN workforce development; advanced PHN education; interprofessional education