Why RN to BSN Students Should Consider a Public Health Minor

The field of nursing continues to grow. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment rate for registered nurses (RNs) will increase by 6% by 2033. Alongside this increase, the role that nurses play in keeping both individuals and our communities healthy steadily evolves. If you’re currently enrolled or interested in the University of Cincinnati’s online RN to BSN program, consider adding a minor in public health.

There are many benefits to pursuing a minor alongside your nursing degree. A minor can prepare you for graduate-level coursework or open the door to career opportunities. By minoring in public health, you’ll expand your skill set as a nurse while also learning how to improve health care in the communities around you.

Key Takeaways

• • Declaring a minor in public health can enhance the RN to BSN program by broadening your overall knowledge of population health.
  • This minor can be advantageous for any nursing professional who wants to improve health care for vulnerable communities or jump-start their career as a public health nurse.
  • For nursing students interested in pursuing further education in public health, this minor is a great introduction to a varied, growing field.

What Is Public Health?

Public health centers the health of communities and the issues that affect them on a broader scale. Many issues fall under the umbrella of public health, including disease prevention and monitoring, health care in the U.S., and environmental health. Above all, the field of public health aims to identify problems that impact communities, propose solutions, and improve their health and quality of life.

Public health nurses may address the needs of individual patients, families, communities, and populations in those communities. Given this, coursework in public health perfectly complements the RN to BSN degree. The public health field overlaps with nursing in several beneficial areas, such as:

• Comprehensive problem-solving—Public health considers how social and behavioral factors are interconnected with health issues in communities. Nursing professionals can utilize this multifaceted approach in individual patient care or in positions at community health centers.
• Emphasis on improving health care—By striving to improve community health care, the study of public health has a positive impact on health care for everyone. By learning what makes health care effective in communities, nursing professionals become equipped to provide better care in any setting.
• A broader understanding of community health—Even if a nursing student doesn’t specialize in public health after graduation, the knowledge they gain through their coursework will serve them in their work with varied populations.

How a Public Health Minor Benefits RN to BSN Students

The minor in public health immerses you in a wide array of coursework with a particular focus on issues that impact community health. While this minor isn’t limited to students in a specific major, it’s particularly advantageous when paired with the RN to BSN degree program.

Curious about the role of epidemiology in public health? Fascinated by the intersection of health and the environment? Interested in studying poverty and families in America? Then you’re in luck. The minor in public health can be tailored to your specific interests and career goals. It affords you the flexibility to dive deep and follow your passions—and best of all, you can complete this minor alongside the RN to BSN program and entirely online.

What Are the Requirements for a Public Health Minor?

All students in the public health minor take at least one course in each of the following subject areas:

• Introduction to Public Health
• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology

Aside from those requirements, students may choose from a wide variety of electives to round out their public health curriculum, such as courses on epidemic studies, biomedical ethics, disease prevention, and global health. Visit the public health webpage to view the public health minor curriculum.

The minor in public health requires 18 credits to complete, but as an RN-BSN student, you don’t have to take 18 extra credits. In fact, three of the RN to BSN required courses (9 credits) count toward the public health minor. This means that you can easily pair this minor with the RN to BSN pathway!

Career Opportunities with a Public Health Minor

The career outlook for registered nurses with BSN degrees is already strong; a minor in public health elevates a BSN to the next level. By equipping students with a more well-rounded understanding of population health and health accessibility, they become more prepared to provide health care in variety of settings and roles.

Ranked as one of the top two minors to pair with nursing, a minor in public health elevates any health degree. You can pursue a career as a community health nurse or a public health nurse, providing care to populations in need.

Public health nurses comprise the largest segment of the professional public health workforce and serve in many different critical roles. Working with individuals and families, they focus on promoting community health and preventing disease by assessing health needs, educating the public, advocating for healthier lifestyles, and implementing health programs. They employ research and evidence-based practice in a variety of settings, such as health departments, schools, homes, community health centers, clinics, correctional facilities, worksites, and out of mobile vans.

Alternatively, if your interests pull you toward further education in public health, the minor in public health can strengthen your chances of gaining entry to a Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

Other potential jobs in the public health field include:

• Health educator
• Health communication specialist
• Infectious disease specialist
• Disaster preparedness coordinator
• Health services administrator

Regardless of which path you choose, you’re guaranteed to make a tremendous impact on the lives and well-being of others with a minor in public health.

Interested in Declaring a Minor at UC? 

If you are currently enrolled in a degree program, you can declare a minor in public health today! To begin the process and track the status of your request, please follow these instructions from the University Registrar.

Not enrolled yet? Browse our program offerings or connect with UC’s online advisors if you’re interested in the RN to BSN pathway or the public health minor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is public health nursing?

Public health nursing is the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences (American Public Health Association, Public Health Nursing Section, 1996). The practice of public health nursing focuses on population health, the promotion of health, and disease and disability prevention.

Why is public health nursing so important?

The knowledge and skills of public health nurses enable them to make significant contributions to public health. Their clinical knowledge and unique relationships to those they serve assist in designing and implementing programs and policies to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.

Is public health a good minor for nursing?

Yes, public health is an excellent minor for nursing students. It broadens your understanding of population health and complements your clinical training, helping you make a greater impact in both individual patient care and community health settings.

Can you work in public health with a nursing degree?

Yes, nurses with a BSN and a background in public health are well-prepared for roles in community health, health education, and disease prevention. Your clinical expertise, paired with public health knowledge, positions you to serve different populations and drive meaningful change.