NSG 545: Improving Population Health

Clinical prevention strategies and population health knowledge are critical for all professional nurses. The advanced practice nurse has an important role to play in improving population health locally, nationally, and globally. Students in this course will analyze population health using epidemiologic, biostatistical, environmental and sociologic data to determine the state of health in the aggregate and population level. Since population health cannot be separated from socioeconomic status and cultural environments, this analysis will include the sociopolitical environment of the healthcare system and the social determinants of health (SDOH). Through a synthesis of concepts from contemporary theory, macro system trends, emerging health care policy, and selected nursing issues, students will evaluate current health promotion and clinical prevention strategies; as well as develop strategies which integrate nursing theory, current nursing research, practice guidelines, interprofessional collaboration, and ethical standards into practice. Emphasis on the health of vulnerable and underserved populations will be threaded throughout this course, consistent with current ANA's Social Policy Statement and Code of Ethics. Students must be admitted to the DNP program to enroll in this course.