"Beyond Bedside Care: Integrating Social Determinants of Health into Contemporary Nursing Practice for Equitable Healthcare Outcomes"

Abstract: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are increasingly recognized as fundamental influences on individual and population health outcomes. Factors such as income, education, housing, employment, social support, and access to healthcare significantly shape health behaviors, disease patterns, and recovery processes. Nurses, as frontline healthcare professionals, are uniquely positioned to identify, assess, and address these determinants within diverse clinical and community settings. This review article explores the concept of SDOH, their historical and theoretical foundations, major domains, and their implications for nursing practice. It further examines nursing roles in assessment, intervention, advocacy, education, and policy development related to SDOH. Challenges in implementation and future directions for integrating social determinants into nursing education and practice are also discussed. By strengthening nurses’ competencies in addressing SDOH, healthcare systems can move toward more equitable, patient-centered, and sustainable care models.