If you’ve ever worked inside of a hospital or busy clinic, you know just how difficult it can be to start new policies, get staff to follow new protocol, and do so while at the same time protecting the safety of your patients. There’s little one can do when poor leadership and a lack of skilled administrators are at the forefront at a clinic. Unfortunately, 34% of nurses in a recent survey cited the top reason for leaving their jobs is lack of leadership!
Fortunately, there are ways hospital administrators and prospective administrative staff can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to implement new policies, keep the safety of their staff and patients in mind, and truly make a difference in the world of medicine. This includes obtaining a Master’s in Public Health through an in-person or online MPH program.
What is a Master’s in Public Health?
A Master’s in Public Health is a type of graduate degree that is obtained after someone completes their bachelor’s degree and before they obtain their doctorate or another post-graduate degree. A master of public health can help teach students valuable skills, including:
- Knowing best practices to spread awareness of safety information
- Know how to commit outreach and help the public
- Influence policy changes
- Influence decisions on healthcare initiatives
- Communicate with a diverse group of people, from hospital staff to patients to the general public
- Research on new methods to keep community members safe
- Know how to bring resources to disenfranchised communities and minority members of the population
Who is the MPH Good For?
Obtaining a Master’s in Public Health is an excellent choice for those that want to continue to do outreach efforts for the public, those who want to help their hospital staff engage in better health practices, and also people who want to work with government bodies such as local, county, state, and federal governments.
While an MPH is not the same as a Master’s in Health Administration (for hospital staff), it is still quite valuable for future health administrators that also want to gain a deeper understanding of the big picture of health. Knowing how diseases and health practices affect the entire population is one of the best ways to prepare for an administrative role, and this knowledge can be gained through an MPH program.
Choosing an Online MPH Program
There are a variety of different schools and programs you can choose from that can provide different types of Master’s in Public Health programs.
An MPH can be obtained both online and in person. An online MPH is a good option for:
- Students that are single parents or that want to need to stay home to take care of a loved one
- Students that work full-time or part-time
- Students that need a flexible program that fits into their schedule
In addition to choosing an MPH program that works with their schedule, students should also only consider MPH programs from accredited universities. These universities can help students gain valuable skills through recognized teaching professionals, as well as help students network and gain a better foothold in their future careers.
Why an MPH Matters in 2022
Finally, it’s important to note that salary prospects for students with an MPH increase to around $81,600 to $143,500 annually! However, a Master’s in Public Health is much more than a useful degree that earns you money. While the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world and affected so many lives, it is the people at the CDC and other public health organizations that have put forth valuable information to the public, helping reduce the spread of disease and save lives.
Whether you earn your Master’s in public health online or in person, you help save lives and make a true impact on the hospital clinical staff you will serve and the public to which you will commit outreach efforts. A boost in salary and a better understanding of health are also other benefits of this valuable degree that is growing more and more valuable to a world that is recovering from the grips of one of the worst pandemics in recent years.
