Indiana University is preparing nursing graduates to meet current and future healthcare challenges by creating pathways to bring enhanced public health training to future nurses.
The IU Fairbanks School of Public Health and the IU School of Nursing have established two dual pathways for undergraduate students to address population health issues in the healthcare system.
- Current nursing students have the option to add a public health minor to their degree, which includes specialized course work and training to address the barriers to health, how to manage a healthcare team and organization, or developing population health strategies.
- Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the Fairbanks School of Public Health who wish to pursue the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing will receive direct admission to the ABSN program, exclusive mentorship, specialized advising, and tailored programming.
“Your opportunity for health starts long before you need medical care,” said Rebecca Ellis, executive associate dean of the School of Nursing. “These new pathways will prepare future nurses with the public health knowledge they will need in the changing landscape of healthcare.”
Nurses trained in public health focus on promoting and protecting health by working to prevent disease and disability. They may support immunizations, infection prevention, environmental health, and health crises like the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis, and the tobacco epidemic.
Public health nurses work in a variety of settings: health departments, schools, homes, community health centers, clinics, health systems and worksites.
“Our healthcare workers are the frontline response for many people,” said Sarah Johnson, assistant dean for undergraduate affairs at the Fairbanks School. “Many people face significant barriers to health and, rather than just treating illness, these new pathways will train nurses on how to help patients prevent illness at the population level.”