ardo , 2015 ). This model centers around the concept of client and family wellness by an advanced practice nurse ( Resick , Taylor , & Leonardo , 1999 ) and is part of the continuum of primary care . Nurse-led wellness centers are located in rural and urban medically underserved communities . Nurse-led wellness centers may be freestanding centers or part of another organization such as a workplace or a university .
Linkages provide clinical sites for educating nurses at all levels and settings , as well as for faculty practice opportunities ( Hansen- Turton & Miller , 2006 ). The NLHC actively integrates service , education , and research in their model ( Kinsey & Miller , 2012 ). NLWCs are often part of a university organizational structure . In this venue , they are frequently termed “ a center without walls ” because wellness center staff travel to various locations within the community to provide needed services ( Resick , Miller , & Leonardo , 2015 ).
NLWCs focus on providing primary and secondary prevention via health education , health promotion , and disease prevention services . In addition , they provide referral services to medically underserved populations . Through this model , patients are enabled to take greater control of their care through health education and patient input in healthcare decisions ( Hanson-Turton ,
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Miller , & Greiner , 2009 ). Services offered by NLWCs : programs focused on healthy lifestyles across the lifespan ; smoking cessation ; fitness ; stress management ; and case management of chronic diseases ( for example , diabetes ). The correlation of these services to baccalaureate nursing education competencies has been documented ( Thompson & Bucher , 2013 ).
Despite strong anecdotal evidence that nurse-led wellness models of care provide robust clinical learning opportunities for BSN nursing students , lack of reimbursement for these wellness services perpetuates challenges to sustainability . An overview of nurse-led health centers , both primary healthcare centers and those including wellness centers , is found in the accompanying supplement to this article titled “ Nurse Managed Health Clinics in Pennsylvania ” ( NNCC , 2017 ).
National Nurse-Led Care Consortium Wellness Committee
Needs of the wellness model differ from the primary care model . Therefore , a group developed within the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium ( NNCC ) supports the growing needs of the nurse-led wellness models . Established in 2004 , the Wellness Committee of NNCC is a passionate group of professionals representing NLWCs from across the U . S . Membership consists of wellness center directors , public health nurses , nurse practitioners , and adjunct faculty members practicing in wellness centers . Their vision is to foster and sustain health promotion / wellness nurse-led centers , develop and share best practices , and facilitate shared research with the goal of improving the health and quality of life for vulnerable populations . Of the 30 members , a cadre of five to eight members participate in a monthly conference call . The goals of the NNCC Wellness Committee are listed in Table 1 .
The monthly meetings focus on shared commonalities . Features that have surfaced include health promotion activities , community partnerships , and nursing student engagement . Dialogue centered on how to capture the essence of wellness activities and support the recommended competencies for baccalaureate education and the IOM ’ s recommendations on core knowledge necessary for nursing professionals .
Essential VII : Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Optimizing Health
As noted , nurse-led wellness models of care provide clinical learning opportunities for incorporating population health and wellness in baccalaureate nursing education . “ Essential VII : Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Optimizing Health ” ( from the supplement to the origi-