Clinical Prevention/Community and Population Health

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2023

Abstract

Lillian Wald coined the term public health nursing in 1893 stating that the focus of public health nursing was prevention of disease (Fee, 2010). Throughout history, nurses and nurse practitioners have provided primary and acute care to a variety of patient populations, often rooted in health prevention and health promotion work. Of late, nurses initiate and manage nurse-managed health centers (NMHCs) often providing care to underserved and vulnerable populations (Bongiorno & deChesnay, 2020). Nurses also contribute to providing health care to populations across the globe. As part of master and doctoral nurse education, NPs are trained in the physical, psychosocial, and lifestyle considerations that influence of social determinants of health (AACN, 2021; AACN, 2006). Nurses are well-known for their role in the public health sector and in providing health care to populations around the world. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) emphasizes the need to link primary care and public health as a means to improve population health for all (IOM, 2012). The NP needs to understand the intersection of social determinants of health, as well as how to incorporate physical, psychosocial, and lifestyle assessments, with prevention strategies, screenings, immunizations, and health promotion for all clients. In public health, performing data analysis and applying population health principles become critical when viewing health at a macrosystems level of care (Fos, 2011).

Comments

Chapter 11 in Role Development for the Nurse Practitioner, 3rd ed.

When this chapter was researched and written, Anna Goddard was affiliated with the College of Nursing at Sacred Heart University.

ISBN 9781284234305 (paperback); 9781284238617 (ebook)

The full text ebook is available to authorized Sacred Heart University users.

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