Advancing and Leading the Profession
Bethany Hall-Long, Ph.D., RNC, FAAN. University of Delaware
I am a nursing professor with a specialty in public health and public policy. My specialty has a significant impact on population health and the general well-being of communities. Public health nursing includes health promotion activities, education and screenings, as well as policies and treatments, addressing issues such as chronic and infectious diseases, obesity, disaster preparedness, violence and injury prevention. We touch on myriad public policies, and we work with all age groups, vulnerable populations, diverse health professionals, community advocates, and the media. With health care consuming 18 percent of the gross domestic product, the roles of advanced practice nurses in service delivery and nurses in public policy are even more important.
