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:

• Select two nurses who lived during the 1800s or the early 1900s and explain how this nurse’s dedicated advocacy transformed policies and practices for a specific population, resulting in improved outcomes for the populace.
• Explore the enduring impact of these pioneering initiatives up to the present day. Offer insights into the reasons behind their continuity or evolution and identify factors that triggered changes in their initial implementation.
• Examine the contemporary role of nurses in the advancement of population health. Discuss two effective avenues through which nurses can make a meaningful difference at the population level. Additionally, delve into the pivotal role played by epidemiology in enhancing the well-being of populations.

By Day 6 of Week 1

Respond to at least two colleagues on two different days in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
• Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
• Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
• Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
• Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
• Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

Sample Expert Answer and Explanation

One of the most influential nurses of the 1800s was Clara Barton, a renowned humanitarian nurse who lived during the Civil War and is best known for founding the American Red Cross in 1881. During the Civil War, she earned the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield” for delivering supplies, caring for wounded soldiers, and risking her life on the front lines. From her contributions to establishing the American Red Cross and her participation in the Civil War, she indirectly contributed to the institutionalization of disaster relief and emergency response, making them a national priority.

As a result, soldiers and disaster victims benefited from structured aid, leading to improved survival and recovery during wars, floods, and epidemics (Makita, 2023). Her work set the precedent for federal and community collaboration in disaster preparedness and humanitarian aid. Another influential nurse during this period was Mary Eliza Mahoney, who was also the first professionally trained African American nurse in the US. She co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) in 1908, advocating for racial equality in nursing education and practice (Fernandez, 2022). This, in turn, paved the way for African American nurses to enter the profession, thereby improving healthcare access in marginalized communities.

From the works or contributions made by the two nurses, Clara Barton and Mary Mahoney, one can attest to the impact that strategic disaster relief has made over the years through the Red Cross as an organization. The reasons behind the continuity of the impact of Barton’s initiative surround the ongoing need for organized disaster response, such as wars, pandemics, and climate-related disasters, as well as public trust in volunteer-driven humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross.

The factors that have led to the evolution of the intuitive include the changing challenges that the world currently faces, for example, the expansion of focus from just wartime aid, not to broader services like health education and refugee support, to mention a few. There is also the aspect of advances in logistics and global coordination, which have reshaped how some humanitarian organizations, such as the Red Cross, work.

Mahoney’s contributions have helped maintain diversity and inclusion as core values in nursing education and practice. To date, professional nursing associations continue to advocate for equity in healthcare access and workforce representation (Fernandez, 2022). The reasons why her impact has continued to date have primarily centered on the growing demand for equitable healthcare across racial and socioeconomic divides. This momentum has been largely fueled by past events, such as the civil rights movements and modern equity initiatives, which have expanded her vision to encompass broader healthcare reforms.

The role of nurses continues to evolve, with an increased need to bridge clinical care with community-based initiatives. The increased adoption of technology has, to a great extent, facilitated the push to have this transition, where nurses are increasingly being seen as a pillar of health transformation at the population level (Mohammadnejad et al., 2023). One effective avenue through which nurses can make a difference at the population level is health promotion and education.

Nurses empower individuals and communities through preventive strategies such as vaccination campaigns, nutrition counseling, and chronic disease management, reducing the burden of illness before it escalates (Yata et al., 2025). Another avenue is through policy advocacy and leadership. Nurses, at all levels, more so, advanced practice nurses, influence health policies by championing equitable access to care, addressing social determinants of health, and shaping legislation that improves outcomes for vulnerable populations (Friis & Sellers, 2021).

Epidemiology plays a crucial role in complementing these efforts by providing the scientific foundation for improving population health. By tracking disease patterns, identifying risk factors, and evaluating interventions, epidemiology enables nurses and health systems to design evidence-based programs that target the root causes of illness. Together, nursing practice and epidemiological insights create a powerful synergy that enhances well-being, reduces disparities, and strengthens resilience across entire populations.

References

Fernandez, A. (2022). AANP Forum. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners: JNP, 18(6), 596–600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2022.05.007

Links to an external site.

Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. A. (2021). Epidemiology for public health practice (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.

Makita, Y. (2023). Humanitarian crucible: The American Red Cross and the War in the Caribbean Islands at the turn of the twentieth century. The Journal of American and Canadian Studies, 41, 3–30.

Mohammadnejad, F., Freeman, S., Klassen-Ross, T., Hemingway, D., & Banner, D. (2023). Impacts of technology use on the workload of registered nurses: A scoping review. Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 10, 20556683231180189. https://doi.org/10.1177/20556683231180189

Links to an external site.

Yata, A., Ohta, R., Ryu, Y., Iwashita, Y., & Sano, C. (2025). Community nursing interventions and their impact on health outcomes: A systematic review of international evidence. Cureus, 17(8), e89575. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.89575