DNP-PHNL Concentration Courses

The Public Health Nurse Leader (DNP- PHNL) specialization prepares nurses to assume leadership positions in a variety of settings.

Critical Need for Public Health Nurse Leaders

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for nurse leaders who are trained in population-level health assessment and intervention. The need for public health nurse leaders is expected to grow significantly in the coming decade as our society confronts the impacts of infectious diseases, natural disasters, climate change, growing concerns about health disparities and social justice issues, and an aging population with a growing number of patients with chronic and acute conditions.

In addition to the DNP core courses, PHNL students take:

PHNL Courses

Courses and Sequencing

In the DNP/PHNL program curriculum, there is a series of 3 theory courses with 3 concurrent practicum courses that provide content and experience in the specialty area of advanced public health nursing. All PHNL students are required to take these courses unless they have a master’s degree in Community or Public Health Nursing and have received some course waivers at the time of admission.

The PHNL program includes 3 practicum courses that each require 250 hours of supervised practice, for a total of 750 hours.  

The three (3) theory courses in the PHNL sequence are designed to provide instruction in Advanced Public Health Nursing. In the 3 concurrent practicum courses, students implement the knowledge they acquire in the companion theory courses. These courses must be taken in sequential order, as they build upon each other.                               

Course Descriptions

• EHS565 Environmental Health Practices (3 cr) 
  Concepts of control methods used by environmental health and engineering practitioners. Topics include water, wastewater, solid wastes, food sanitation, vector control, housing, and accident control measures.
• HPP601 Application of Social and Behavioral Theories in Public Health Interventions (3 cr)
  Methods and approaches to community health. Family, school, and community dimensions and potentials. Types and use of various methods leading to community action. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
• HPP605 (3cr) Health Equity and the Foundations of Public Health
  This course introduces public health practice through a health equity lens.
• HPP628 Financial Management of Health Institutions (3 cr)
  This course is designed to familiarize students with financial management theory and concepts as applied to healthcare settings.
• N540 Epidemiology for Clinicians (3 cr)
  This course provides in-depth theoretical knowledge on concepts and principles of epidemiology and its application in health promotion and disease prevention. Its focus will be on key areas of epidemiology.
• N640 Advanced Public Health Nursing I (3 cr)
  This course is designed to provide advanced practice nurses specializing in the role of the Public Health Nurse Leader with the knowledge and skills required to identify and analyze population-based public health problems as they occur in the local, national, and global community. Analysis and evaluation of health problems at the community and population level will occur with evidenced based strategies designed to strengthen health promotion and disease prevention, research, practice, education, and policy. Application of this knowledge also occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698G. Must be taken concurrently with N698G.
• N750 Advanced Public Health Nursing II course (3cr)
  This course is an examination of the theories, models and process of public health program planning, with a focus on designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating population-based public health programs, including financial program management and effective grant writing strategies. Must be taken concurrently with N798LL.
• N760 Contemporary Issues in Public Health Practice III (3 cr)
  As the final course in the DNP Public Health Nurse Leader specialty sequence this course provides students with the opportunity to examine the complexity of current global problems in public health and explore political, cultural, ethical, and environmental considerations affecting the development and implementation of targeted public health interventions. Must be taken concurrently with N798M.
• N698G Practicum: Advanced Public Health Practice I– 3 cr. 250 hours.
  This practicum is the first of the PHNL sequence.  This supervised practicum provides students the opportunity to apply theories and models for conducting a population-focused community assessment and a targeted needs assessment and is taken concurrently with N640.  
  N798LL Practicum: Advanced Public Health Practice II– 3 cr. 250 hours.
  This is the second practicum in the PHNL sequence. This is a supervised practicum that provides students the opportunity to apply theories and models for developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population-focused community health intervention programs, including an emphasis on grant writing. Must be taken concurrently with N750.
• N798M Practicum: Advanced Public Health Practice III – 3 cr 250 hours.
  This is the third and final practicum in the series of the PHNL sequence. This supervised practicum provides students an opportunity to focus experience in an area of public health at the local, national, and global population level through implementation of a previously planned intervention. Must be taken concurrently with N760.