NAM nursing meetings target health disparities

Nursing leaders gathered in Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle this summer to share their insights into how nurses can address the social determinants creating disparities in the health of different U.S. populations. Their remarks were intended to inform the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) committee on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030. “Research has shown that social determinants of health such as education status, access to health care, social connectedness and food and housing insecurity can all affect an individual’s health and well-being,” AONL member Susan Hassmiller, PhD, RN, NAM scholar-in-residence and nursing adviser to the NAM president, told Nurse.com. The article also showcases a novel pre-nursing charter school in Providence, R.I.; a Baton Rouge, La., initiative to conduct a joint community health needs assessment; and nursing efforts to ensure digital solutions better meet patient needs.