Abstract
BackgroundClimate change is described as the biggest global challenge for human health in the upcoming decade. Nurses play a central role in mitigating the effect of climate change on the healthcare sector and adapting to the phenomenon. Therefore, nursing students must be prepared for a new professional role keeping climate change in mind; consequently, it is important to study students' perceptions of climate change and sustainability. ObjectivesTo explore nursing students' perceptions of climate change and sustainability and examine how they perceive their role as nursing students in working towards a more sustainable development within the healthcare sector. DesignIt is a qualitative, descriptive exploratory study. SettingsA nursing program at a university in central Sweden. ParticipantsNursing students. MethodsIndividual in-depth interviews and one group interview were conducted for the study. ResultsThe main findings revealed that students saw themselves living in a mismatched discourse. They perceived the future of humanity as gloomy but thought that sustainability is the society's joint obligation to achieve the right to a good life for all people equally. ConclusionsNursing students perceived themselves as important actors in the work of climate change and sustainability. Thus, nursing education needs to integrate the impact of climate change on healthcare and promote sustainability into the curriculum for preparing students to take responsibility for sustainability in society.
Highlights
Several scientific studies and reports describe climate change as a major threat to human health (IPCC, 2018; Watts et al, 2015; Watts et al, 2018)
As the largest body of healthcare staff, nurses play a central role in mitigating climate change and adapting the healthcare sector to burdens caused by the phe nomenon (ICN, 2018)
An understanding of how nursing students perceive climate change and sustainability issues and how they see their own role in the work towards sustainable healthcare can guide future curriculum development in the area
Summary
Several scientific studies and reports describe climate change as a major threat to human health (IPCC, 2018; Watts et al, 2015; Watts et al, 2018). An understanding of how nursing students perceive climate change and sustainability issues and how they see their own role in the work towards sustainable healthcare can guide future curriculum development in the area. The current study contributes insights into nursing students' perceptions of climate change and sustainability related to their future roles as nurses. Objectives: To explore nursing students' perceptions of climate change and sustainability and examine how they perceive their role as nursing students in working towards a more sustainable development within the healthcare sector. Heat waves, and rain-related floods, storms, and hur ricanes, which have a direct or indirect impact on the health and wellbeing of the population It has serious consequences for health care providers, healthcare systems, and the national economy. Nurses have a tremendous opportunity to protect their patients from the im pacts of climate change by working to create sustainable, climate smart hospitals and health systems
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