The nursing profession has a role to play in mitigating the effects of climate change through patient education, nursing education and research, according to a new position statement from the American Nurses Association.
The statement, released Sept. 20, outlines guidance for nurses, nursing organizations and the healthcare sector as a whole on how to limit their contributions to climate change.
In professional settings and nursing schools, the ANA recommends nurses educate patients about the effects of climate change, including its effects on human health and mitigation strategies, and advocate for initiatives and policies to reduce carbon emissions within health institutions. Climate and sustainability content — including around waste reduction, energy and water conservation and climate leadership — should be integrated into all levels of nursing curricula.
The policy statement also provides guidance for professional nursing organizations. The ANA and other leading groups have an opportunity to educate their members on the relationship between climate change and illness and how it exacerbates existing key challenges in the industry around staffing and patient safety, according to the report.
"The ANA recognizes that climate change is a critical public health issue that requires urgent action to mitigate its impact on human health and well-being," the position statement says. "Nurses are called upon to integrate the science of climate and health into nursing education, research and practice and to work with other healthcare professionals, community organizations, and policymakers to address the multiple health consequences of environmental degradation, extreme weather events, and other climate-related health impacts with evidence-based mitigation and adaptation actions, programs and policies."
The statement comes on the heels of the planet's hottest summer on record, with emergency departments seeing an influx of patients with heat-related illnesses and operational disruptions.