Understanding Online Registered Nursing Students' Attitudes Towards Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare

Area of Science:

• Environmental science and public health
• Nursing education and practice

Background:

• The healthcare sector significantly contributes to environmental pollution.
• Nurses, comprising over half the healthcare workforce, are key to driving sustainable practices.
• A lack of environmental sustainability expertise among nurses hinders progress, despite student interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess registered nursing students' attitudes towards environmentally sustainable healthcare.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for implementing sustainable practices in nursing.
• To understand the role of education in promoting environmental sustainability in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional design utilizing an anonymous online survey.
• Convenience sampling of registered nursing students in online programs.
• Quantitative analysis via descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis via thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Students acknowledge healthcare's environmental impact and the need for sustainability.
• Students desire more education on carbon footprints, waste management, and resource use.
• Students emphasized the need for organizational leadership support and workplace training.

Conclusions:

• Student nurses' recommendations can guide the healthcare sector towards reduced environmental impact.
• Implementing these findings supports achieving net-zero targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Enhanced education and leadership support are crucial for integrating sustainability into nursing practice.