Population Health: A New Essential in Nursing

Nursing education is engaged in efforts to respond and adapt to the dynamic fluctuations of health care in the United States. Population health has been revived in this venue of health care involvement in the community and social determinants of health.

The purpose of the study was to define population health and identify topics to include in the undergraduate curriculum, teaching strategies, and skills and competencies needed by new nurses for implementation of population health to improve health outcomes.

The study had a mixed-methods design with a survey and an interview distributed to public/community health faculty across the United States.

Extensive population health topics were suggested for the curriculum, but a significant lack of a structured framework and consistent concepts was noted.

Topics identified in the survey and through the interviews are illustrated in the tables. These will assist in integrating and scaffolding population health throughout a nursing curriculum.