Nurses' Actions to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Study

Although RNs play a critical role in achieving the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their contributions are not widely recognized, even among nurses themselves or within the nursing profession. To achieve the SDGs by 2030, governments, civil society, academics, and the private sector must all work together to deliver innovative and integrated solutions. While much work is needed to increase and sustain RNs' engagement with the SDGs, there is evidence that RNs are contributing to the SDG targets worldwide at individual, organizational, and systems levels.

The main purpose of this global study was to describe RNs' self-reported actions to advance the SDGs, exploring the ways RNs contribute to their achievement. A secondary goal was to identify recommendations for further action.

This qualitative descriptive cross-sectional study used convenience and snowball sampling to recruit an international sample. Data were collected anonymously via an online survey. Each participant was asked to name and describe one action they had taken within the past year to advance the SDGs. Free-text responses were analyzed using directed content analysis. The social-ecological model provided a framework for analysis.

A total of 309 participants from 25 countries responded to the survey. Through our analysis, RNs' SDG-related actions were initially grouped into three categories--individual, community/organization, and systems/policy--with each containing subcategories. A fourth category was added to reflect responses indicating no action. Some examples of actions taken included visiting policymakers, donating to local food banks, educating students, recycling, reducing disparities, conducting research on gender, increasing awareness of inequalities, and using telehealth to increase access to health care.

Findings from this study provide a better understanding of RNs' contributions toward achieving the SDGs. This evidence can be used to inform the development of recommendations that aim to spread and scale RNs' contributions to the sustainable development agenda.