Using social determinants of health to link health workforce diversity, care quality and access, and health disparities to achieve health equity in nursing

Public Health Rep. 2014 Jan-Feb;129 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):32-6. doi: 10.1177/00333549141291S207.

Abstract

It is widely accepted that diversifying the nation's health-care workforce is a necessary strategy to increase access to quality health care for all populations, reduce health disparities, and achieve health equity. In this article, we present a conceptual model that utilizes the social determinants of health framework to link nursing workforce diversity and care quality and access to two critical population health indicators-health disparities and health equity. Our proposed model suggests that a diverse nursing workforce can provide increased access to quality health care and health resources for all populations, and is a necessary precursor to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity. With this conceptual model as a foundation, we aim to stimulate the conceptual and analytical work-both within and outside the nursing field-that is necessary to answer these important but largely unanswered questions.

MeSH terms

  • Cultural Diversity*
  • Education, Nursing / organization & administration
  • Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration*
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Health Workforce / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nursing* / organization & administration
  • Quality of Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Social Determinants of Health*
  • United States
  • United States Health Resources and Services Administration / organization & administration