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Strategies for Incorporating Climate Change into Nursing Curricula

Strategies for Incorporating Climate Change into Nursing Curricula   (click here for Word Doc to print)

 

Specific Classes/General Content Areas in Nursing Curricula Appropriate Climate related Content Teaching Strategies,

Resources, and Competencies  (ex. readings, questions, assessments, case studies, research articles, PowerPoints, webinars, videos,etc.)

Nursing Concepts Related to Climate

 

Related Climate Related  Competencies (ANA & ICN)

Fundamentals in

Nursing (Introductory course)

Environment in Nursing

Introduce a social determinants of health approach to nursing assessment and practice

Nurse as a role model: What is the student’s carbon footprint?

Does the facility they are working in have a green team?

Does the facility consider climate change/sustainability as part of its mission?

Does the clinical agency examine its carbon footprint?

Lifecycle of supplies:  Where do supplies come from and where to they end up?

 

Incorporate safety issues related to disaster preparedness into practice.

 

National Climate Change Assessment: https://globalchange.gov/our-work/fourth-national-climate-assessment

 

Carbon Footprint Calculator:

http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm

Assesses the environment to identify risk factors.

Promotes a safe and healthy workplace and professional practice environment.

 

Participates in strategies to promote healthy communities and practice environments.

Health Assessment Identify vulnerable populations for climate change health risks.

 

Focus assessment related to the climate:

Dehydration

Excessive heat and heat adaptation

Respiratory status

Age

Nutritional assessment

Mental health

Consider the patient’s living environment as well as the outside environment to determine what the patient believes promotes health and poses threats to health.*

Risk heat related illness, flooding, drought, food insecurity, air quality

 

U.S. Climate Toolkit: https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/human-health

 

See list of vulnerable groups listed in the USGCRP assessment.

Assesses the environment to identify risk factors.

 

Participates in strategies to promote healthy communities and practice environments.

Nutrition Content specific to food and water  insecurity, sustainability, and  and contamination. Include concepts of:

Food sustainability

Nutrient deficits

CDC (climate and foodborne illnesses)

 

Food miles: How far your food travels has serious consequences for your health and the climate

(NRDC, 2007) available from: https://food-hub.org/files/resources/Food%20Miles.pdf

 

Calculate how far your food traveled from farm to table: http://www.foodmiles.com/

Introduction to Professional Nursing/ Leadership/

Trends

ANA Standards of practice–Standard #17

ANA Climate & Energy resolutions

NLN Scope of Practice (2010)

Climate Change Policy: local, state, national, international

ANHE: https://envirn.org/climate-change-health-and-nursing/  Especially page 27- includes nurses’ climate stories.

 

Health Care Sector Climate Resilience:  https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/human-health/building-climate-resilience-health-sector

 

Carbon Footprint Calculator: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

ANA Standards of practice–  Standard #17

 

Promotes a safe and healthy workplace and professional practice environment.

Pathophysiology Include the relationship of air quality to CVD, HTN, Respiratory illness, allergies, cognitive deficits.

 

Include co-benefits of living in a “climate conscious” world.

Lancet Commission Report (2015) .https://climatehealthcommission.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/global-health-community-lancet-commission1.pdf

Impacts of Climate Change in the Unites States: A Scientific Assessment  www.health2016.globalchange.gov

Website contains downloadable powerpoint presentations.

 

How Climate Change Effects Your Health (APAP infographics) https://www.apha.org/news-and-media/multimedia/infographics/how-climate-change-affects-your-health

Pharmacology How can the pharmaceutical  industry minimize carbon emissions? (20% of carbon emissions in UK r/t to pharma).

 

Pharma’s role in planning for hospitals and health centers respond to weather events.

 

Pharma waste to mitigate contamination of water supplies

Medication availability during disasters

Impact of heat, water access, & climate emergencies on medication access.

 

Teach Proper disposal of unused medications:

How to dispose of unused medicines

 

United States Food and Drug Administration:

https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm

 

Health Care without Harm’s European recommendations https://noharm-uscanada.org/sites/default/files/documents-files/4304/2016-09-27%20HCWH%20Europe%20Pharmaceuticals%20in%20the%20environment%20position%20paper.pdf

Participates in strategies to promote healthy communities and practice environments.

 

Advocates for the safe, judicious and appropriate use and disposal of products in health care.

Research/

EBP

The state of the science in climate change

Citizen science (measuring air quality, sea level rise, water quality, food availability)

Examine the data of local, state, & national weather extreme events with hospitalizations and/or mortality.

Use the evidence to make policy recommendations

Develop climate health research questions.

 

Nurse researchers in climate health/planet.  See ANHE e-text: Unit IX beginning, on page 145 https://envirn.org/e-textbook/

 

To examine the data -USGS: Disease Maps (vector borne) https://www.cdc.gov/vector-borne-diseases/index.html

Adult Health/

Medical-surgical Nursing

Include climate risk or worsening of disease state (CVD, MI, Pulmonary, Renal)

 

Include other members  of the health care team to address climate adaptation and resilience.

 

Climate risks for persons with disabilities

And adults living with chronic conditions

 

At risk occupational groups

EPA Air Now (air quality report app) https://airnow.gov

 

Emergency responses

Case studies/Simulations (i.e. Heat Stroke)

 

Students participate in weather-related emergency response drills.

 

Advancing Clean Air, Climate and Health. ANHE education program. CE’s provided. Link to program: https://envirn.org/advancing-clean-air-climate-health-opportunities-for-nurses/

 

Climate Change and Health Assessment  (GlobalChange.gov, 2016) https://health2016.globalchange.gov/

Gerontological Nursing Vulnerable population – Age impacts susceptibility to climate changes.

(Excessive Heat events, hydration, mobility for extreme weather events, poor air quality, waterborne and vector borne disease, nutrition, dementia risks)

Programs to promote adaptation and resilience strategies.

Increased risks in urban settings and heat islands

Advancing Clean Air, Climate and Health. ANHE education program. CUE’s provided.

Link to program: https://envirn.org/advancing-clean-air-climate-health-opportunities-for-nurses/

 

Environment and Health: Unit II: Harmful Environmental Exposures and Vulnerable Populations

 

Climate Change and the Health of the Older Adult (EPA, 2016) https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/older-adults-health-climate-change.pdf

 

Climate Change and Older Americans: State of the Science

Gamble, J, Bradford, B.J.., Hurley, P. & Schultz, W. (2013).

Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(1). 15-22.

Link to article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23033457

Assesses the environment to identify risk factors.

 

Participates in strategies to promote healthy communities and practice environments.

Child and Family Nursing Vulnerability of children to climate change impacts

Home environments

Climate disasters

Play environments

Healthy Homes

Food and water exposures

Excessive heat events

Vector borne diseases

Diarrheal diseases

Malnutrition from lack of food sources

Common EH health issues for children:

Asthma triggers

Heat exhaustion

Sustainable living for families

Anticipatory guidance to parents/guardians related to changing climate

NIH videos: Effect of Climate on Health of Children https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/scivid/index.cfm#785822

EPA Pediatric Environmental Specially Units (PESU) https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Pages/Pediatric-Environmental-Health-Specialty-Units.aspx

 

Environment and Health: Unit II: Harmful Environmental Exposures and Vulnerable Populations.

 

Heat exposure information for student athletes http://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/extreme-weather/index.php#heat-schools

Participates in

strategies to promote healthy communities and practice environments.

OB/Women’s health/

Neonatal Intensive Care

Nursing

Fetal Development – climate related effects

Pregnancy & climate: excessive heat events, inhalation of particulate matter and adverse health outcomes

Breastfeeding (Need to know specific concern related to CC here?)

 

Risk for vector-borne diseases for pregnant women, fetus, and infants

Article: Climate change and the potential effects on maternal and pregnancy outcomes: an assessment of the most vulnerable–the mother, fetus, and newborn child.

Rylander C, Odland JØ, & Sandanger TM. (2013). Climate change and the potential effects on maternal and pregnancy outcomes: and Assessment of the most vulnerable–the mother, fetus, and newborn child. Global health action, 6(1), 19538. Link to the article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3595418/

Climate Change and the Health of Pregnant Women (EPA, 2016) https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/pregnant-health-climate-change.pdf

 

 

Psychiatric/

Behavioral/

Mental Health Nursing

Climate risks discussed with each disease and how vulnerability is affected by age, culture, issues of addiction and homelessness – as well as hope and preparedness.

PTSD related to: exposure to trauma and recognition of threats to continuity of care and disasters and environmental justice communities.

Identify the effects of extreme heat on suicide and aggressive behavior.

Learn emerging vocabulary regarding Climate Change and Mental Health.

 

PTSD and impact of disasters.

Stress

 

Mental Health and Stress Related Disorders: niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/geh/climatechange/health_impacts/mental_health/index.cfm

 

Resource: Making the Connection: Climate Changes Mental Health. https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/topics/climate/climate_changes_mental_health.ashx

CDC Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) https://www.cdc.gov/climate-health/php/brace/index.html

Article: Climate change and mental health:  A causal pathways framework. Berry, H.L., Bowen, K. & Kjellstrom, T. (2010). Climate change and mental health: a causal pathways framework. International Journal of Public Health. 55 (2).123-132. doi:10.1007/s00038-009-0112-0

Article: Climate Change and Mental Health. Trombley, J., Chalupka,S., & Anderko, L. (2017) Climate change and mental health. American Journal of Nursing, 117 (4), 44-52.

Resource: Mental Health and Our Changing Climate. Clayton, S., Manning, C. M., Krygsman, K., & Speiser, M. (2017). Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, and ecoAmerica.

Recognizes that the vulnerable are “the most vulnerable” in terms of climate change and mental health.

Understands the need to build resilience in person, family, and community.

Assesses the environment to identify risk factors and develops plan of care which uses self-efficacy to support resilience and posttraumatic growth.

Participates in an interprofessional approach to ensure community day programs and group homes engage in preparedness planning through effective communication and the formation of strong community bonds.

Community/

Public

Health Nursing

Public health emergencies:

Disaster preparedness-including interdisciplinary collaboration in responding to:

floods, excess heat of cold events, access to food and water, environmental refugees and displaced persons

Vector-borne diseases (covered in Communicable disease content) and change in location due to climate

Air Quality of Oz & PM 2.5, 10

Relationship between

Mitigation – primary prevention

Adaptation – secondary prevention

Resilience – tertiary prevention

Each of these strategies can also be primary level too—need to be sure to address this

 

Planetary health

NOAA U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit (Health Section): https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/human-health

Community Climate Risk and Vulnerabilities Assessment tool https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/human-health/building-health-care-sector-resilience/element-1-climate-risks-and-community

 

Connect content about host environment and the impact of climate change upon vector distribution.

 

Public health nursing and climate change

 

Use the Ecological Model for Planetary Health to identify global health effects of climate change, explain the strategies of mitigation, adaptation and resilience and how various population groups are impacted by climate change.

 

Read

http:www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PllS2542-5196(17)30083-9/fulltext

Assesses the environment to identify risk factors.

 

Communicates information about environmental health risks and exposure reduction strategies.

 

Participates in strategies to promote healthy communities and practice environments.

Leadership/

Trends/

Advocacy/

Policy

Climate advocacy

Climate Change Policy: local, state, national, international

Public health policy:

Advocacy campaigns

Govt. testimony

Environmental refugees

Planetary health

Nursing organizations’’ position on climate change: ICN, ANA,

What are health systems’ position on climate change and preparedness: JACHO

What are global, federal, state & local policies

Climate Change, Health & Nursing: A Call to Action (ANHE) https://envirn.org/climate-change-health-and-nursing/

 

US Climate & Health Alliance: Adovcacy tools: http://usclimateandhealthalliance.org/uscha-state-policy-initiative/advocacy-tools/

Creating a model for Climate Resilient City (nurse working across disiplines):  https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/creating-model-climate-resilient-city

Participates in strategies to promote healthy communities and practice environments.