Policy perspectives in environmental health: nursing's evolving role

The nursing community has become increasingly active in the environmental health policy arena by exerting its influence at the local, state, and national environmental health policy levels; on media-specific issues; and in the work-related venues where they have influence. Nurses are valued and trusted by policy makers, and should be active in policy efforts to increase access to public health information such as potentially hazardous chemicals in the air, water, food, soil, and land. Given the global nature of environmental contamination, it is critical that nursing's international organization becomes active in environmental health policies. Promotion of healthy environments should be translated to organizational position papers and practice recommendations within nursing and nursing specialty organizations.