Nurses and Midwives as Global Partners to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Anthropocene

Original Research: Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Study

BACKGROUND

Nurses have a critical role to play in achieving the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While Goal 3 (good health and well-being) is of particular importance to nursing, every SDG contributes to the advancement of universal health and well-being. Yet many nurses are unfamiliar with the SDGs and how they relate to everyday nursing practices.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine RNs' knowledge of and attitudes toward the SDGs.

METHODS

This study used a descriptive correlational cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of RNs from multiple countries completed an anonymous online survey that included eight demographic items and 25 items exploring participants' knowledge of and attitudes toward the SDGs. Descriptive, parametric, and nonparametric statistics were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The majority of nurses in this study perceived themselves as lacking knowledge of the SDGs. Most wanted to know more, including how they could take action to help achieve the goals. Overall, participants agreed that the SDGs are relevant to nursing practice and that nurses are integral to their advancement. Participants who were younger than age 50, those living in the United States, and those who practiced primarily in a clinical or community setting were more likely than others to self-report lower SDG knowledge scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings contribute to our collective understanding of RNs' knowledge and attitudes regarding the SDGs. They can assist nurse educators and leaders worldwide in developing targeted strategies to better inform nurses and prepare them for actions that will advance these goals. Increasing nurses' knowledge of the SDGs, especially as these goals relate to daily clinical practice, may lead to greater nursing engagement and impact.

Strategies for academic nursing to advance global and planetary health: A call to action

Nurses play a crucial role in addressing human health influenced by global forces such as pandemics, and political conflicts that displace millions; in leading efforts to promote planetary health; and in achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Agenda. Academic nursing programs have a significant role in actualizing nursing's impact on global health (GH) and planetary health (PH). This paper describes how nursing programs can actualize their GH and PH nursing perspectives to benefit students and society, thereby increasing nursing's effectiveness and improving health outcomes in local and global settings. Numerous strategies to actualize GH and PH perspectives were derived from current literature and an assessment of eleven nursing program websites. Nursing programs may adopt program-wide strategies such as reflecting GH and PH in their mission statement; through education, in courses; and through faculty or student scholarship, policy endeavors, and/or partnerships. Now is the time to take such action, recommitting to GH and PH nursing and deepening nursing's impact. Academic nursing programs' leadership role in society, and their role in preparing nurses to lead, educate, discover, and advocate is essential for the health of populations and the planet long into the future.

Planetary health and its relevance in the modern era: A topical review

Planetary health is a relatively new concept that has gained traction in recent years due to the urgent need to address the health of our planet and its inhabitants. It refers to the interdependent health of both humans and the environment, recognizing that the two are inseparable and that the health of one is intricately linked to the health of the other. This article aims to advocate changes in how health care for both the environment and humans is envisaged, and aligned with sustainable development goals using ethically sound, solution-oriented, and practical approaches to education. Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and population growth led to environmental degradation and climate change in this era. These factors have profound implications for human health, with the World Health Organization estimating that 23% of global deaths are linked to environmental factors. Climate change and extreme weather events are exacerbating existing health problems. Air pollution, water pollution, and toxic chemicals are additional environmental factors that add to it and lead to health issues, including non-communicable diseases and death. A collaborative and interdisciplinary approach is needed to address planetary health challenges, including working across sectors and investing in research to understand better the complex interactions between human health and the environment. By promoting sustainable development and protecting the planet's health and inhabitants, we can ensure a healthy future for generations.

The environmental awareness of nurses as environmentally sustainable health care leaders: a mixed method analysis

BACKGROUND

People worldwide are concerned with the possibility of climate change, microplastics, air pollution, and extreme weather affecting human health. Countries are implementing measures to reduce environmental impacts. Nurses play a vital role, primarily through Green Teams, in the process of promoting sustainable practices and minimizing the environmental footprint of health care facilities. Despite existing knowledge on this topic, assessing nurses' environmental awareness and behavior, including the barriers they face, is crucial with regard to improving sustainable health care practices.

AIM

To analyze the environmental awareness and behavior of nurses, especially nurse leaders, as members of the Green Team and to identify areas for improvement with regard to the creation of a sustainable environment.

METHODS

A sequential mixed-method study was conducted to investigate Spanish nurses. The study utilized an online survey and interviews, including participant observation. An online survey was administered to collect quantitative data regarding environmental awareness and behavior. Qualitative interviews were conducted with environmental nurses in specific regions, with a focus on Andalusia, Spain.

RESULTS

Most of the surveyed nurses (N = 314) exhibited moderate environmental awareness (70.4%), but their environmental behavior and activities in the workplace were limited (52.23% of participants rarely performed relevant actions, and 35.03% indicated that doing so was difficult). Nurses who exhibited higher levels of environmental awareness were more likely to engage in sustainable behaviors such as waste reduction, energy conservation, and environmentally conscious purchasing decisions (p < 0.05). Additionally, the adjusted model indicated that nurses' environmental behavior and activities in the workplace depend on the frequency of their environmental behaviors outside work as well as their sustainable knowledge (p < 0.01). The results of the qualitative study (N = 10) highlighted certain limitations in their daily practices related to environmental sustainability, including a lack of time, a lack of bins and the pandemic. Additionally, sustainable environmental behavior on the part of nursing leadership and the Green Team must be improved.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that most nurses have adequate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to environmental sustainability both inside and outside the workplace. Limitations were associated with their knowledge and behaviors outside of work. This study also highlighted the barriers and difficulties that nurses face in their attempts to engage in adequate environmental behaviors in the workplace. Based on these findings, interventions led by nurses and the Green Team should be developed to promote sustainable behaviors among nurses and address the barriers and limitations identified in this research.

Clinical reasoning skill of nurses working in teaching medical centers in dealing with practical scenarios of King's model concepts

BACKGROUND

The present study was conducted to determine clinical reasoning of nurses working in teaching medical centers in dealing with practical scenarios of King's concepts.

METHODS

The study population in this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study comprised 133 nurses. Data were collected using scenarios based on the King's model. Data were analyzed in SPSS-16.

FINDINGS

Mean age of the participating nurses was 27.71 ± 8.1 years.The clinical reasoning score was less than average in most participating nurses, and had a significant relationship with education(P < 0.05), service ward(P < 0.001)and organizational position(P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis of factors relating to clinical reasoning, higher education level (B = 9.5, P = 0.018) and organizational position (B = 4.3, P = 0.017) were predictors of clinical reasoning score.

DISCUSSION

Existing nursing models such as King's, which is closely related to clinical reasoning, can be used more in educational and clinical systems, and as a clinical guide for promoting the clinical reasoning of nurses and students.

The image of nursing in the media: A scoping review

AIM

To systematically review the available evidence from research exploring the image of nurses in the media.

BACKGROUND

Nurses have historically faced many challenges and have received media attention for such efforts. However, the image of nursing traditionally conveyed by media has failed to represent the real character and a positive image of the nursing profession.

REVIEW METHODS

For this scoping literature review, a search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Dialnet to identify studies written in English, Spanish or Portuguese from the earliest date in the databases until February 2022. Four authors were involved in a two-stage screening process. Data were subjected to quantitative content analysis. A decade-by-decade analysis was performed to track the evolution of the research.

RESULTS

Sixty studies were included. The analysis shows (1) an increasing interest in analysing the portrayal of nurses and nursing in media over time, especially from 2000 onwards; (2) a prevailing trend of focusing on one form of media when analysing the portrayal of nurses; (3) qualitative designs as the most frequent method for exploring the image of nursing; and (4) a predominantly negative image conveyed by media.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a notable body of scientific evidence about the image of nurses and nursing portrayed in media. The interest in analysing media depictions of nursing has a long history. The included studies' samples showed heterogeneity, as they were obtained from different media, periods and countries.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

This scoping review is the first systematic review to provide a comprehensive map of what has been studied thus far regarding media depictions of nursing. It confirms the imperative need for nurses in different settings (academic, assistance or management fields) to maintain a proactive attitude towards addressing images of nursing and ensuring accurate representations.

The Impact of Self-Efficacy on Nurses' Well-Being: Does Digital Competence Matter?

PURPOSE

Drawing on person-environment fit theory and social cognitive theory, this study aimed to examine how self-efficacy affects nurses' workplace well-being via person-job fit and the moderating role of digital competence.

METHODS

A two-wave survey was conducted to collect data. Data were collected from six hundred and ninety-five nurses at three Chinese hospitals between May 2022 and September 2022. We employed hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Self-efficacy positively influenced person-job fit (β = .55, p < .001), which positively affected nurses' workplace well-being (β = .32, p < .001). Person-job fit mediated the effect of self-efficacy on nurses' workplace well-being. Additionally, digital competence strengthened the positive impact of self-efficacy on person-job fit (β = .12, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Recruiting nurses with both self-efficacy and digital competence benefits hospitals. It is critical for nurses to improve their digital competence for achieving person-job fit and attaining workplace well-being in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era.

Developing and Implementing Entrustable Professional Activities to Prepare Global Nurses

INTRODUCTION

Nurses work in global settings and must be prepared to enter practice and provide culturally appropriate care to diverse populations. As faculty we want to ensure the achievement of programmatic, national, and global competencies for our student's successful future practice.

METHODS

Aligning current programs with American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) New Essentials provides an opportunity to consider new approaches and address challenges. By merging the New Essentials with the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) competencies, we facilitate the achievement of programmatic outcomes, mission, and values in nursing education.

RESULTS

Using an entrustable professional activities framework provides a clear measure of achieving priority competencies. We created an approach other faculty might find helpful.

DISCUSSION

Entrustable professional activities, well established in medical education, are emerging as a valuable tool to measure the achievement of competencies in the preparation of nurses.

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Questionnaire on Environmental Awareness in Nursing (NEAT)

Environmental awareness of the ecological problems caused by this climate crisis and its impact on global health has been growing globally. Nurses are health care agents that usually hurt the environment and contribute to the unsustainability of the care system. Such behavior is perpetuated without the nurses’ awareness and is even magnified by the current pandemic, jeopardizing the health systems and the Sustainable Development Goals. However, there is no Spanish version of any survey that measures the awareness of these agents, only the Nurses Environmental Awareness Tool (NEAT) is available. The current research presents a unique investigation based on a mixed method, using the Spanish version of the NEAT, also called NEAT-es. The results of the mixed analysis (N = 376), a cognitive interview, and descriptive analysis indicated perfect consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.80), better than the original. The survey validation achieved higher values and can be used to measure environmental awareness in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.

The ICN Global Nursing Leadership Institute: Integrating the SDGs into Leadership and Policy Development

This article is one in a series in which contributing authors discuss how the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are linked to everyday clinical issues; national public health emergencies; and other nursing issues, such as leadership, shared governance, and advocacy. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a 15-year plan of action to achieve the goals, was unanimously adopted by all UN member states in September 2015 and took effect on January 1, 2016. The Agenda consists of 17 SDGs addressing social, economic, and environmental determinants of health and 169 associated targets focused on five themes: people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnership. The SDGs build on the work of the UN Millennium Development Goals, which were in effect from 2000 to 2015. The current article discusses the International Council of Nurses Global Nursing Leadership Institute and its integration of the SDGs into a global leadership and policy development program.