With recent population threats of bioterrorism, communicable disease pandemics, and increasing chronic disease and injury risk factors such as obesity, violence, and substance use and abuse, the need for advanced practice nurses who are educated to promote and protect the health of populations has never been greater in the U.S. The APHN specialization prepares graduates for advanced public health nursing positions which address the health issues of populations. Students will gain knowledge in public health sciences, advanced population-focused assessment, public health nursing intervention, program planning and evaluation, global health issues, and public health nursing leadership. In addition, the curriculum has a focus on vulnerable rural populations, which is threaded throughout several of the courses.

We are pleased to be able to deliver the APHN specialization as an online program, making it accessible to both local and distance students. Programs of study are available for both full-time and part-time students. Classes are a mixture of synchronous format, in which students and faculty are logged into "virtual" classrooms and are able to see and hear each other via webcams and audio headsets, and asynchronous format, in which course materials are posted to a website and students are independently able to access them at any time. Sites for clinical practicum experiences will vary, but may include local and state health departments, schools, shelters, non-profit agencies, and other community-based organizations.

We were fortunate and honored to have been awarded federal funding, for the first three years of start-up for this specialization through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing. By granting this funding, HRSA recognizes the importance of increasing the number of nurses who are prepared for population health at the advanced level of practice.

For more information about this specialization, please view the side links. If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please feel free to contact us!

Tracy Evanson, PhD, PHCNS-BC
Project Director
(701) 777-4559
tracyevanson@mail.und.edu