From Florence to fossil fuels: Nursing has always been about environmental health

Championing a move from sustainability to Planetary Health in nursing curriculum

In this paper, we review the progress on developing sustainability-related content in the Bachelor of Nursing curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand and engage with Planetary Health. Sustainability in nurse education is explored and the concept of sustainability-practising graduates is promoted. THE ISSUE: We have seen ambivalence towards sustainability persisting amongst nurse educators and students, and sustainability-related content discarded. Despite this, we continue to recognise that sustainability is closely related to climate change which is the greatest threat to planetary, human, and animal health and as such is an essential component of nurse education and practice. Never has there been a timelier reminder of nurses' responsibility to recognise we are ideally placed to contribute to, and help lead, the health response to climate change and champion sustainability. A SYSTEMS-THINKING APPROACH: This response includes a systems-thinking approach to understanding climate change and the impact on health, nursing's responsibility to address climate change, promote health, and respond to health needs. As we revise our current Bachelor of Nursing curriculum, it is timely to review how our sustainability content and thinking has progressed since our previous review in 2017. We are mindful of the need to continue championing this topic, ensuring it is situated at the forefront of nurse education. We propose that a gradual and purposeful shift towards a Planetary Health focus will help to counter the sustainability fatigue and ambivalence we have noted amongst our colleagues and students, ensuring our revised Bachelor of Nursing curriculum is future proofed.

Nurse-sensitive environmental indicators: A qualitative study

AIM

This study aims to explore the proposed concept of "nurse-sensitive environmental indicators" among nursing and non-nursing leaders of environmental stewardship who work with nurses.

BACKGROUND

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, nurses are obligated to "practice in a manner that advances environmental safety and health." Little is known about environmental impacts in acute-care nursing.

METHODS

Nursing and non-nursing leaders of environmental stewardship across the United States (N = 9) were interviewed to explore the concept of acute-care nurse-sensitive environmental indicators. Transcripts were examined using qualitative descriptive analysis.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis revealed that nurses are in key positions to influence environmental change, need more education and awareness to be effective, and need leadership support and role-modelling. Issues related to waste were highly nurse sensitive; issues related to food, chemicals, and transportation were moderately nurse sensitive; issues related to energy and water were minimally nurse sensitive.

CONCLUSION

Preliminary consensus on nurse-sensitive environmental indicators was confirmed by leader participants in this study.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

To help meet environmentally focused Sustainable Development Goals, nursing leaders can use the concept of nurse-sensitive environmental indicators in planning, education, resource allocation, and leadership to improve environmental stewardship in acute care nursing.

A holistic health determinants model for public health nursing education and practice

Baccalaureate nursing graduates (BSNs) in the 21st century need to be prepared to manage the population health needs of diverse populations across the lifespan and take actions to improve health equity. A need for a Holistic Health Determinants Model that included the Social Determinants of Health was identified. A model incorporating the Healthy People 2020 Health Determinants Model and the Healthy People 2030 Social Determinants of Health Model was developed. Two theoretical approaches provided a foundation for the model. Social ecological theory stresses the lived experience in an ever-changing environment from the micro to the macro biological, behavioral, social and physical environmental levels. Public health intersectionality added the construct of constant interactions among the health determinants that resulted in different levels of health status among individuals and groups. This Holistic Health Determinants Model is a tool to use in teaching nursing students how to address the needs of individuals/families, diverse populations, and communities. It also facilitates integration of the new AACN Population Health Competencies across the curriculum. The model facilitates the preparation of BSN graduates to address the factors that shape health status and to take actions to improve health equity.

The Situation-Specific Theory of Heart Failure Self-care: An Update on the Problem, Person, and Environmental Factors Influencing Heart Failure Self-care

Many studies of heart failure (HF) self-care have been conducted since the last update of the situation-specific theory of HF self-care.