Master's program leads nursing grad to new heights in public health career
College of Nursing MSN in Advanced Public Health Nursing graduate Kaitlin Bratby decided to focus her nursing career in public health, motivated by a passion to improve care for patients in urban settings that she discovered as an undergraduate.
After completing her BSN at WSU, Bratby knew she wanted to continue her nursing education there, thanks in part the College of Nursing’s network of nationally recognized faculty and clinical partners, and the opportunities to work alongside them.
“Wayne State significantly prepared me to have
a fulfilling nursing career,” she said. “Starting with my BSN, I experienced a range of clinical experiences that prepared me for my profession. The opportunity to have clinical rotations in an urban environment with diverse populations provided a unique learning experience that greatly benefited me.”
During her time in the MSN-APHN program, Bratby furthered an interest in community-focused care through public health research and practice, building new skills to implement into her nursing career.
Working with her peers, Bratby was able to network with other nurses who shared an interest in public health while contributing to research and clinical projects addressing health challenges facing the Detroit community.
“My favorite part of the MSN-APHN program was the opportunity to choose my own topic of interest for our community change project," Bratby said. "With my background in HIV and sexually transmitted infections, I developed a project that emphasized the importance of community outreach programming for HIV prevention."
Bratby worked closely with Assistant Clinical Professor and Advanced Public Health Nursing Specialty Coordinator Katherine Balint, DNP, APHN-BC, CHSE, CRRN, who helped guide her career development through public health programming and outreach.
“Dr. Balint’s passion for public health nursing helped me realize how valuable nurses are in that field,” Bratby said. “The connections I made with fellow classmates were rewarding both personally and professionally. Following the completion of our program, we continue to network and learn about our different areas of expertise in public health.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bratby served as a school nurse in Oakland County, becoming a professional liaison between public and private schools to report contact tracing and safety protocols.
“Once the school nursing program through the Oakland County Health Department was over, I was hired as a clinic nurse for OCHD, providing STI/HIV testing and treatment, immunizations and TB testing services. I have been committed to public health ever since,” she said.
Bratby was recently promoted to nursing supervisor within OCHD and said her Wayne State MSN helped pave new pathways for her career she wouldn’t have found otherwise.
“Earning an MSN from Wayne State opened up many doors for me in my public health career,” she said. “Soon after I graduated, I was promoted to this leadership role that I would not have been eligible for without my Wayne State graduate degree.”