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Nurses can gain advanced clinical and leadership skills in a new MSN track in community health nursing leadership at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. The program prepares advanced public health nurses to practice culturally competent healthcare in urban underserved areas. The program, one of many around the country, but new to UMDNJ, was funded by an $860,186 Health Resources and Services Administration grant.

Frances Munet-Vilaró, RN, PhD, director, and Ann Curley, program coordinator, recruited students by making presentations at departments of health, for which attendees earned CE credit. They covered the core functions of public health nursing and basic information about epidemiology and then discussed the new MSN program. There are currently four students in the program.

The new MSN track is 46 credits and 540 clinical hours that can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. The program consists of a core set of courses, three leadership field practices, and a final field project of each student’s choosing. Graduates are eligible for national certification as advanced public health nurses, board-certified (APHN-BC) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Munet-Vilaró says, “My hope is that they will be able to identify where the needs are and create the solutions.” She adds, “What is unique about this program is that we based it on what the nurses out in the community told us that they needed, so we know that it is relevant.”

For more information about this program, e-mail Dr. Munet-Vilaro at munetvfr@umdnj.edu.

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