A Systematic Review of Climate Change Content Integration in Nursing Curricula

Health systems must be strengthened to mitigate and adapt to climate change-related health challenges, and nursing program accreditors are beginning to require climate health competencies (American Association of Colleges of Nursing). Since these recommendations are recent, more information is needed for faculty to build competence in content related to climate and health in nursing program curricula.

A literature review was conducted to explore how climate-change environmental and population health implications are being incorporated into nursing education. Literature was reviewed using the Global Consortium on Climate Change and Health Education competency outcomes as a guide to evaluation.

Educators used three types of strategies: (1) integration of content throughout the existing curriculum; (2) embedding a stand-alone course; and (3) educational activities directed toward climate health education.

The strategy that provided education on the greatest number of competencies was the integration of content throughout the existing nursing curriculum. [.