Towards greener care: understanding sustainability awareness among nursing students through qualitative inquiry

BACKGROUND: Environmental sustainability is increasingly important in healthcare due to the sector’s substantial impact on energy use and waste generation. Nurses play a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices to protect both public health and the environment. This study aims to explore nursing students’ awareness and perceptions of sustainability in healthcare. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was employed using semi-structured interviews with 15 undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Data were analyzed thematically to identify key patterns. RESULTS: Fifteen nursing students—both male and female—from undergraduate and postgraduate levels—participated in the interviews. Thematic analysis identified four overarching themes encompassing nine subthemes: (1) understanding of sustainability, (2) personal motivations and values, (3) institutional and educational contexts, and (4) professional vision for sustainable nursing practice. Overall, participants demonstrated a general awareness of sustainability but reported limited integration within academic curricula and inadequate institutional support in clinical settings. CONCLUSION: Enhancing nursing curricula and strengthening institutional support are essential to empower future nurses to effectively integrate sustainability into healthcare practice. CLINICAL TRIAL: Not applicable. This study is not a clinical trial.