This policy brief showcases nurses’ roles in recognizing and addressing the social determinants of health, and their present-day contributions to prevention and health-promotion.
Key Findings
- Nurse innovators in the primary care arena are transforming communities by stepping outside the clinic to engage clients in healthy activities.
- Nurses are reducing the use of emergency care by helping vulnerable individuals manage their chronic conditions, receive appropriate care for non-emergency health events, and connect with preventive and social services.
- School nurses play a pivotal role in creating healthy school environments and bridging the gaps between education, health care, and public health.
- Nurses sit at the helm of roughly one-third of local and county health departments, and some of them have risen to become leaders at the state and national levels.