NURSES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS •••
In addition to these programs , nursing students can bring climate action to their campus . Organizing a group of peers to take the Climate for Health Ambassador Training is one way to build a community on your campus that shares your concerns . Professors can be allies to help organize and recruit for this , using the free online training as a supplementary tool to bring climate content into the curricula . Having a group of like-minded peers on campus can help students to identify and act on local opportunities for climate action .
Adding A Climate Focus to Practice The Planetary Health Report Card Initiative ( 2023 ) is another useful tool for students . It is designed specifically to assess and improve the climate and planetary health content in professional healthcare schools , including nursing programs . The report card assesses sustainability efforts on campus , as well as curricula , research , community engagement , and support for student initiatives . Students using this tool can prompt their institutions to make meaningful commitments , reduce emissions , and improve nursing education .
Nursing students are busy and usually have a full plate of classes , clinical rotations , and existing extracurricular activities . Adding a new set of activities may seem daunting or downright impossible . But since the impacts of climate change cut across so many different areas , there are almost certainly ways to bring a climate focus to your other existing projects and passions .
Adding a climate focus can bring additional value to this work . This is especially true for students interested in community health and social determinants . The people most at risk from the climate crisis , and the least able to rebound from negative impacts , have multiple social and environmental risk factors . Because climate change intersects with these risk factors , initiatives to address climate change can address multiple problems . Food access programs that emphasize fruits and vegetables improve community health and can reduce average emissions . Planting trees in urban hot spots helps to build community bonds and lowers temperatures during dangerous heat waves . Nurses have a unique opportunity to lead on climate change while improving patient care and community health .
Nurses are at the forefront of the climate crisis , caring for the health of individuals grappling with the aftermath of environmental upheavals as well as those suffering from chronic exposure to environmental hazards . Nurses are also uniquely positioned as trusted ambassadors on climate change and its health impacts . The collaboration between NSNA and the Climate for Health program gives nursing students the opportunity to both expand their knowledge and forge a path as leaders on climate and health . By organizing and supporting local climate solutions you can not only reduce future emissions and long-term risks , you can also bring immediate health benefits to patients and communities . n
NURSES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS •••
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