NURS8310: Week 1 Blog

Blog: Population Health and Epidemiology

Then and Now

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● Photo Credit: nito / Adobe Stock
A century ago, epidemiology was a population science that focused on infectious
diseases and outbreaks. Pioneered by passionate researchers like John Snow and
Florence Nightingale, epidemiologic methods were used to curb the spread of
debilitating diseases like cholera and the Spanish Flu. Today epidemiology relates to
more than just acute outbreaks of illness; it addresses many chronic population health
problems that nurses and other healthcare professionals deal with every day, such as
obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
For this assignment, you explore the development and evolution of epidemiology and
population health, as well as nurses’ roles in advancing care at the population level.
To prepare:
● Explore important developments in the history of epidemiology and population
health. Consider how current practices differ from those at the genesis of the
field.
● Reflect on the role of nurses in promoting population health in the light of the
Learning Resources you reviewed this week.
By Day 3 of Week 1
Post a 300- to 400-word blog post addressing the following:
● How has the practice and scope of population health changed? Include in your
explanation the role of epidemiology in promoting the health of populations.
● What role did nurses play at the advent of these concepts in the 1800s and early
1900s? Be sure to differentiate between individual and population-based care.
● How can nurses play an effective role in advancing population health today?
Discuss two ways you can make a difference at the population level.
By Day 6 of Week 1
Submission and Grading Information

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
Curley, A. L. C. (Ed.). (2020). Population-based nursing: Concepts and competencies
for advanced practice (3rd ed.). Springer.
● Chapter 1, “Introduction to Population-Based Nursing”
Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. A. (2021). Epidemiology for public health practice (6th ed.).
Jones & Bartlett.
● Chapter 1, “History and Scope of Epidemiology”
● Chapter 2, “Practical Applications of Epidemiology”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Morbidity and mortality weekly
report (MMRW) . https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index.html
Gallagher, A. (2020). Learning from Florence Nightingale: A slow ethics approach to
nursing during the pandemic. Nursing Inquiry, 27 , e12369.
https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12369
Michals, D. (Ed.). (2015). Clara Barton . National Women’s History Museum.
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/clara-barton
National Women’s Hall of Fame. (n.d.). Mary Breckinridge .
https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/mary-breckinridge/
Rothberg, E. (2020). Lillian Wald . National Women’s History Museum.
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/lillian-wald
Required Media (click to expand/reduce)
Introduction to Epidemiology and Population Health with Dr. Letha Thomas
Time Estimate: 3 minutes

Transcript – Introduction to Epidemiology and Population Health with Dr. Letha Thomas
[PDF]