Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Framework into Nursing Education

The purpose of this ground-breaking Textbook is to describe and illustrate, with pedagogical features, the process by which social determinants of health (SDOH) has been integrated throughout all courses in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Specifically, the authors describe initial steps to develop a comprehensive SDOH model for nursing education, followed by rigorously designed faculty educational materials, exemplars of SDOH instructional materials, and evaluation of this process from faculty and students. It describes a comprehensive framework that guides the development, implementation, and evaluation of SDOH across the pre-licensure and post-licensure curriculum and illustrate the process integrating SDOH throughout all aspects of didactic, simulation, and clinical education. 

Among the subjects addressed, the history of nursing and SDOH and the value of SDOH content in nursing courses to alleviate health disparities are described and mandates to integrate SDOH content into nursing curriculum by the leading nursing organizations are summarized. The authors also include a review of existing SDOH frameworks used in public health and medicine and present a comprehensive SDOH model for nursing education. A SDOH educational course content for faculty is detailed (Social Determinants of Health 101) and exemplars from faculty and students are provided along with an evaluation after the first year. The authors conclude with a discussion from faculty leadership; what they learned and their suggestions to other nursing programs.

Although there are books published, no books exist on this topic for nursing education and practicing nurses, yet SDOH is foundational to nursing curriculum and practice. The leading nursing organizations are all mandating that SDOH be integrated into nursing courses. Hence this textbook will be a key resource for Schools of Nursing in the US and globally. The intended audience of this book are leaders and faculty of nursing education programs, national professional nursing organizations, practicing nurses at hospitals and health systems, community and public health agencies, and ambulatory care.