Integrating population health into nursing education: The process of gaining commitment from Washington's nursing deans and directors

The achievement of health equity requires the expansion of nursing roles to include assessing burdens of disease, practicing cultural humility, implementing prevention strategies, and developing partnerships. In 2017, deans and directors of schools and programs of nursing in Washington State came together to commit to the integration of population health concepts and social determinants of health into all areas of nursing curricula. Through online communications and in-person meetings, facilitated in part by the authors of this paper, and with subcommittee representation from several baccalaureate nursing programs, Washington State academic nursing leaders identified new strategies to increase faculty awareness of population health and how to inspire related curricular changes to their programs. This Washington-wide initiative resulted in a white paper that was formally endorsed by 38 deans and directors representing all 14 baccalaureate and higher degree nursing programs in the state.