Master of Science in Nursing Public Health MSN Bridge Pathway

Start your GCU
journey today.

Step 1: Educational Interests

This helps us connect you with the right enrollment counselor to help you through the process.

Degree Level

Bridge

Class Setting

Online

Area of Study

Healthcare

Program

Bridge - MSN: Public Health Nursing

Are you a licensed, registered nurse in the U.S.?

Make a selection

Current Education Level

Make a selection

Citizenship Status

U.S. Citizen

Military Affiliation

No military affiliation

Country

United States

Find Your Purpose

Start your GCU journey today.

Request Info

Overview

Prepare for a Healthcare Career With the Public Health MSN Bridge Pathway

Offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, the Bridge (Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Public Health) pathway. Upon completing foundational nursing courses from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you will then enter the bridge MSN pathway with a focus on public health which offers an intensive introduction to key skills and concepts in public health analysis, planning and implementation.

Bridge (Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Public Health Nursing)

Offered By

College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Class Settings

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $340 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 24

Online: 5 weeks

[]

Transfer Credits

Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)

16+ years old
High School Graduate
3.0+ Unweighted GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

ACT: 19
SAT: 1000*

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).

The requirements for the public health MSN bridge pathway allow you to bridge your knowledge and experience as an RN while gaining knowledge of a new nursing discipline — public health nursing.

This bridge pathway:

Consists of 24 total credits
Has five-week long online classes, with the exception of the capstone course
Provides introductory nursing courses to prepare you for your return to formal education
Offers a time-effective option for current RNs looking to get into public health nursing

After completing this public health MSN bridge pathway, you will have the educational background and foundational knowledge you need to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Public Health Nursing program and begin your career in public health.

Other MSN Bridge Programs

Explore the other MSN bridge program options GCU has to offer:

Patient Safety Emphasis

Health Informatics Emphasis

Nursing Education Emphasis

Nursing Leadership Emphasis

Acute Care Nurse Emphasis

FNP Emphasis

Coursework

Master Core Nursing Principles

As an MSN bridge pathway with a concentration in public health student, you will enroll in seven prerequisite courses that will prepare you for coursework at the graduate level. The MSN in public health culminates with a capstone practicum project, allowing you to demonstrate your ability to solve a real-world public health issue.

You will have the opportunity to evaluate emergent research, education, policies and treatments that can spark changes to promote health and reduce human disease and illness globally, in local communities, and within specialized populations. You will learn to:

Assess learning needs, create and implement a health teaching plan and evaluate student learning

Develop prevention, treatment and intervention methods for diverse populations

Interpret statistics in order to make decisions

Synthesize research relevant to the nursing and healthcare industry

Disseminate information related to health promotion to clients with differing backgrounds

Utilize assessment techniques and knowledge of pathophysiology to enhance patient outcomes

FAQ

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Bridge Pathways FAQs

Read through our frequently asked questions to learn more about completing the MSN public health bridge pathway and earning your public health MSN degree.

The MSN public health nursing bridge pathway is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to pursue a career in public health. This bridge pathway helps you transition into master-level nursing by presenting numerous advanced nursing concepts and challenging you to think critically. While there is a lot of material to learn, as an experienced RN, you will be able to use your prior knowledge of the nursing field to aid you in your studies and development as a healthcare professional.

Advancing your career by earning your MSN public health nursing bridge pathway degree can open not only advanced nursing job opportunities, but also non-nursing possibilities in the public health sector. Advanced nursing positions offer promising job growth potential. Job growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is projected to grow by an estimated 40% from 2021 to 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.¹

The public health MSN bridge pathway at GCU consists of 24 total credits. All online courses are five weeks in length, with the exception of the 10-week capstone course at the conclusion of the program.

Courses

Course List

Credit Summary

Major24 credits

Degree Requirements24 credits

Core Courses

NRS-415

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, the role of the professional nurse, and the importance of effective nursing leadership. Standards of practice, differentiated nursing practice, professional accountability, interprofessional collaboration, and quality improvement are emphasized with importance placed on the application of leadership styles and management skills.

NRS-420

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on methods of health history taking, physical examination skills, and documentation. Learners integrate assessment skills and clinical judgment/reasoning in identifying actual or potential health problems and needs across the life span. Health promotion strategies are incorporated to provide for the unique needs of the individual, ensuring person-centered care. Learners design plans of care based on evidence-based research and practice.

NRS-425

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on the community as the patient taking into account varying cultures, spiritual values, geographic norms, and economic conditions. The course examines social determinants of health, including social, legal, and political variables impacting individual, community, and population health across the life span. Students use epidemiological data, functional health pattern assessments, and nursing theories to plan and intervene in areas of health promotion and disease prevention across the life span.

NRS-455

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course is designed to build upon existing knowledge of the pathophysiological processes of disease as they affect patients across the life span, recognizing the nurse's multidimensional role in health promotion and disease management and prevention, which include biological, environmental, social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. Integration of nutritional and pharmacological concepts encourages critical thinking and application of nursing interventions. Prerequisite: NRS-420.

HLT-362V

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This is an introductory course on concepts of statistics, emphasizing applications to health care professions. The course is designed to prepare learners to understand concepts of statistics and the appropriateness of statistical methods used in published research papers and a variety of settings. Areas of emphasis include an introduction to the statistical analysis concepts of variable/reliability factors; P values; experimental design; descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and mode; sampling methods; and power analysis.

NRS-445

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This writing-intensive course promotes the use of research findings as a basis for improving clinical practice. Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies are analyzed with an emphasis on the critical review of research studies and their application to clinical practice. Students develop evidence-based practice recommendations from the critical analysis of available literature guided by a PICOT question. Prerequisite: HLT-362V.

NRS-465

6 Total Credits

Course Description

The final course in the program is writing-intensive. It will integrate the academic and practical knowledge students have acquired throughout the program’s curriculum. Students participate in planned clinical experiences that refine professional competencies at the baccalaureate level and enable them to integrate new knowledge and enhanced skills to advance nursing practice. Clinical practice hours are dedicated to learning objectives in leadership and community health. The evidence-based project provides students an opportunity to identify a clinical nursing practice issue and propose a possible solution. Students, under the guidance of faculty and approved preceptors, identify and analyze a nurse practice issue, develop a change project, and propose an evidence-based solution that reflects synthesis and integration of course content and professional practice. The evidence-based project development is guided by the baccalaureate program learning outcomes. Clinical hours: 100. 50 hours in leadership and 50 hours in community health. Prerequisite: NRS-415, NRS-420, NRS-425, HLT-362V, NRS-445, PHI-413V, NRS-450, NRS-455, NRS-460.

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

More Resources

Learning Goals

Financial

Calculate My Costs

Tuition & Financing

Scholarships & Grants

Information

Admission

Start Your Journey Today

If you seek to influence and implement change within your community and throughout the public, consider enrolling in the public health MSN bridge pathway at GCU. To learn more about this option, fill out the form on this page to get in contact with a university counselor.

Apply Now

COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, retrieved on March 17, 2023.