Nursing Professor Advocates for Student Health in Helsinki

College of Nursing Associate Professor Nancy Innella, Ph.D., R.N., CNE, presented at the 2025 International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress, held June 9–13 in Helsinki, Finland. The event drew 7,000 nurses from around the world and focused on sustainability and global health policy, highlighting how nurses are shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

Innella served as lead presenter for a concurrent session on the results of her literature review, titled "Health Care for Every Student in Every School: A Literature Review for Implementing Effective School Health Services." Her work explored the critical role of school-based health services in promoting student well-being and equity. The review has been submitted for publication in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS).

“It was an honor to present this work in Helsinki,” said Innella, adding that her literature review was part of a grant commissioned by the World Health Organization. 

An International Gathering for Nursing Leadership
The ICN Congress is one of the largest global events in the nursing profession, offering a platform for nurses to share research, build international partnerships and influence health policy. The 2025 gathering marked the 30th ICN Congress and celebrated the centennial of the Finnish Nurses Association, co-host of the event. Under the theme “Nursing Power to Change the World,” the conference emphasized nurses' essential contributions to achieving universal health coverage and addressing healthcare disparities across diverse settings.

“By sharing her research on school health services with a global audience, Dr. Innella is advancing health equity and the nursing profession in a way that reflects our deep commitment to servant leadership through education, research and compassionate care,” said Kristi Stinson, Ph.D., R.N., A.P.N.-B.C., interim dean of the College of Nursing.

Faculty Expertise in School and Community Health
Innella joined Seton Hall’s faculty in 2018 and brings deep expertise in pediatric, community and gerontological nursing as well as in nursing research. Her academic interests include women’s health, childhood obesity in Hispanic populations and end-of-life education. She holds a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from Rush University and is a certified nurse educator (CNE). A proud Seton Hall alumna, Innella earned her B.S. in Nursing from the University in 1999.

About the College of Nursing’s Graduate Programs
Nationally recognized for educational excellence, Seton Hall’s College of Nursing offers eight graduate degree programs with coursework delivered in a flexible asynchronous online format: six online Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program and a hybrid Ph.D. in Nursing program. The College maintains its status as a premier institution for graduate nursing education, consistently ranking among the top 25 nationally and as the #1 program in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.

Categories: Health and Medicine, Nation and World