Creating a Culture of Health: Opportunities for Public Health Nursing Leadership in Implementing the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report Recommendations

In 2010, the Institute of Medicine issued its landmark report: The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.   The report identified evidence-based recommendations for nursing practice, education, leadership, workforce diversity and interprofessional practice and education.  The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action focuses on nationwide implementation of the report’s recommendations.  Substantial progress has been made by the Campaign with significant involvement by public health nurses, who are now positioned to implement these transformative recommendations. Consequently, tomorrow’s public health nurses will be prepared to improve population health by advancing what the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has called a “culture of health.”

The session will highlight the findings and recommendations of the IOM report.  The activities and accomplishments of the Campaign for Action will be detailed, with an emphasis on those related to public health nursing and nursing leadership.  A  discussion of the recommendations and their implications for public health nursing will be followed by steps that public health nurses should take to further the implementation of the recommendations.     

Today’s public health nurses are refocusing their work to support evidence-based strategies to improve population health.  They have weathered the impact of reduced budgets while building capacity for new roles in the emerging health system.

The need for public health nursing has never been greater.  The Campaign for Action positions the nursing workforce for key roles in health system transformation. Public health nursing should seize the opportunity to play a larger role in the Campaign’s efforts to implement key IOM report recommendations.