Addressing Social Determinants of Women's Health: Shifting the Focus Toward Health Promotion

Background:

Nursing faculty have been called to incorporate social determinants of health (SDOH) in nursing courses to equip nurses in better addressing disparities in care and health outcomes.

Method:

Prior to clinical experiences, students were introduced to concepts of health promotion and the SDOH framework. In the maternal child nursing course, core concepts of reproduction and sexuality were introduced through an SDOH framework lens. Outpatient clinical sites were chosen to provide a comprehensive, health promotion-focused clinical experience.

Results:

As students immersed themselves in providing care outside of the acute care setting, they assessed specific populations' needs and resources and participated in delivering care that addressed financial and access issues.

Conclusion:

Incorporating outpatient maternal child clinical experiences broadens students' perspective on health outcomes impacted by SDOH. By implementing health promotion interventions in community settings, students can grasp a more vivid picture of nursing's role and impact outside of hospital walls. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(X):XXX–XXX.]