All nurses are to be aware of the principles of environmental health for nursing. We are to integrate these principles into our practice, education, and research.
ANA’s Principles of Environmental Health for Nursing Practice
1. Knowledge of environmental health concepts is essential to nursing practice.
2. The precautionary principle guides nurses in their practice to use products and practices that do not harm human health or the environment and to take preventive action in the fact of uncertainty. Precautionary Principle
3. Nurses have a right to work in an environment that is safe and healthy.
4. Healthy environments are sustained through multi-disciplinary collaboration.
5. Choice of materials, products, technology, and practices in the environment that impact nursing practice are based on the best available evidence.
6. Approaches to promoting a healthy environment reflect a respect for the diverse values, beliefs, cultures, and circumstances of patients and their families.
7. Nurses participate in assessing the quality of the environment in which they practice and live.
8. Nurses, other health care workers, patients, and communities have the right to know relevant and timely information about the potentially harmful products, chemicals, pollutants, and hazards to which they are exposed.
9. Nurses participate in research of best practices that promote a safe and healthy environment.
10. Nurses must be supported in advocating for and implementing environmental health principles in nursing practice.
Source: ANA’s principles of environmental health for nursing practice with implementation strategies. (2007). American Nurses’ Association: Silver Spring, MD. (May be purchased in booklet form at nursebooks.org)
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Last updated 127 days ago by Katie Huffling
