Abstract
Climate change is not only detrimental to our planet but poses a serious threat to human health. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2021) named climate change the greatest threat to human health and, by 2030, predicts an increase of 250,000 deaths each year from climate-related causes. Incongruent with our pledge to do no harm, healthcare industries are significant contributors of carbon emissions that cause climate change. Healthcare systems produce almost 5% of heat-trapping gases released into the atmosphere. Hospitals generate 20 pounds of waste per patient each day, equating to 5 million tons of waste annually (Practice Greenhealth, 2022). As frontline health care workers, nurses are uniquely positioned for climate action and advocacy. Nurse leaders and educators need effective strategies for preparing the nursing workforce to contribute to climate healthy work environments.
To contribute to climate healthy practices in our own work environment and prepare the future nursing workforce for climate action, we provided recommendations from current literature for reducing waste in healthcare settings (Hawkins et al., 2023, Hawkins & Tremblay, 2023), conducted an energy efficiency treasure hunt designed to increase awareness of our own carbon footprint, and embedded Climate for Health (2022) Ambassador Training into our Community Health Nursing course. We evaluated the impact of our climate-related educational activities on self-reported knowledge, confidence, and intent to engage in climate action. A quasi-experimental one group posttest design examined the effectiveness of two educational interventions on increasing knowledge, confidence and intent to engage in climate action. A convenience sample of undergraduate nursing students completed two Likert scale surveys (N= 57, N=60) with open-ended questions that provided context. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis to uncover common patterns in self-reported learning.
Eighty-nine percent of participants (n=51) agreed or strongly agreed that completing the energy efficiency treasure hunt increased their awareness of energy use in our work environment and 98% (n=56) were more aware of ways our campus can reduce waste and save energy. The majority (72%, n = 41) agreed or strongly agreed that completing the energy efficiency treasure hunt influenced their intent to act on energy savings in their personal lives. After completing the Climate for Health Ambassador Training, 85% (n=50) of participants reported having a greater understanding of the connections between climate and health. Most (74%, n= 42) reported an increase in their confidence in speaking about climate and health. Sixty-three percent (n=38) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they would be more likely to participate in advocacy actions to mitigate climate change. Qualitative data supported the quantitative findings.
After the educational activities, the majority of the participants reported increased knowledge, confidence, and intent to act on climate issues in personal and professional settings indicating that the learning approaches were effective. We recommend employing these strategies for preparing the nursing workforce for climate action in multiple settings across healthcare and educational.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Chi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Climate Change, Work Environment, Workforce, Climate Change Mitigation, Nursing Practice, Health Facilities
Recommended Citation
Hawkins, Janice E. and Tremblay, Beth, "Creating Climate Healthy Work Environments in Healthcare" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 109.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/109
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-02-27
Creating Climate Healthy Work Environments in Healthcare
Washington, DC, USA
Climate change is not only detrimental to our planet but poses a serious threat to human health. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2021) named climate change the greatest threat to human health and, by 2030, predicts an increase of 250,000 deaths each year from climate-related causes. Incongruent with our pledge to do no harm, healthcare industries are significant contributors of carbon emissions that cause climate change. Healthcare systems produce almost 5% of heat-trapping gases released into the atmosphere. Hospitals generate 20 pounds of waste per patient each day, equating to 5 million tons of waste annually (Practice Greenhealth, 2022). As frontline health care workers, nurses are uniquely positioned for climate action and advocacy. Nurse leaders and educators need effective strategies for preparing the nursing workforce to contribute to climate healthy work environments.
To contribute to climate healthy practices in our own work environment and prepare the future nursing workforce for climate action, we provided recommendations from current literature for reducing waste in healthcare settings (Hawkins et al., 2023, Hawkins & Tremblay, 2023), conducted an energy efficiency treasure hunt designed to increase awareness of our own carbon footprint, and embedded Climate for Health (2022) Ambassador Training into our Community Health Nursing course. We evaluated the impact of our climate-related educational activities on self-reported knowledge, confidence, and intent to engage in climate action. A quasi-experimental one group posttest design examined the effectiveness of two educational interventions on increasing knowledge, confidence and intent to engage in climate action. A convenience sample of undergraduate nursing students completed two Likert scale surveys (N= 57, N=60) with open-ended questions that provided context. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis to uncover common patterns in self-reported learning.
Eighty-nine percent of participants (n=51) agreed or strongly agreed that completing the energy efficiency treasure hunt increased their awareness of energy use in our work environment and 98% (n=56) were more aware of ways our campus can reduce waste and save energy. The majority (72%, n = 41) agreed or strongly agreed that completing the energy efficiency treasure hunt influenced their intent to act on energy savings in their personal lives. After completing the Climate for Health Ambassador Training, 85% (n=50) of participants reported having a greater understanding of the connections between climate and health. Most (74%, n= 42) reported an increase in their confidence in speaking about climate and health. Sixty-three percent (n=38) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they would be more likely to participate in advocacy actions to mitigate climate change. Qualitative data supported the quantitative findings.
After the educational activities, the majority of the participants reported increased knowledge, confidence, and intent to act on climate issues in personal and professional settings indicating that the learning approaches were effective. We recommend employing these strategies for preparing the nursing workforce for climate action in multiple settings across healthcare and educational.
Description
Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year. Nurses have a role in protecting our planet and our health. Presenters will share effective strategies for mitigating climate change and preparing the nursing workforce to contribute to climate healthy work environments.