Other Titles

Special Session/Plenary Session

Other Titles

2025 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Honoree Presentation

Abstract

Health consequences of climate change are occurring due to increasing carbon dioxide levels, rising temperatures, extreme weather, and rising sea levels contributing to complex public health issues. Significant adverse health sequelae include asthma, cardiovascular disease, respiratory allergies, heat-related illness, vector-borne diseases, and mental health impacts. The nursing profession has a critical role addressing the health impacts of climate change in a climate-changing world.

Notes

References:

Dresser, C. Johns, Z., Palardy, A., McKinnon, S., Breakey, S., Viamonte Ros, A., & Nicholas, P. K. (2024). Toward a climate ready health care system: Institutional motivators and workforce engagement Milbank Quarterly. Jun;102(2):302-324. doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.12687

Evans, L. A., Bell, J., Samost, M., Wolford, L. L., Sipe, M., Starodub, R., Belanger, B., Do, G., Donati, C., O’Brien, L., & Nicholas, P. K. (2023). Health consequences of climate change: Continuing education opportunities for health professionals in the US. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 54(12), 561-566. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20231013-02

White, B. P., Breakey, S., Brown, M. J., Fanuele, J. R., Tarbet, A., & Nicholas, P. K. (2023). Mental health impacts of climate change among vulnerable populations globally: A scoping review. Annals of Global Health, 89(1):66. doi: 10.5334/aogh.4105

Breakey, S., Starodub, R., Nicholas, P. K., & Wong, J. (2023). A cross-sectional study to assess faculty and student knowledge of climate change and health: Readiness for curricular integration. Journal of Advanced Nursing, epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1111/jan.15729.

McKinnon, S., Breakey, S., Fanuele, J. R., Kelly, D., Eddy, E. Z., Tarbet, A., Nicholas, P. K., & Viamonte Ros, A. (2022). Roles of health professionals in addressing health consequences of climate change in interprofessional education: A scoping review. Journal of Climate Change and Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100086

Nicholas, P. K., Evans, L. A., Pusey Reid, E., & Gona, C. (2021). The intersection of climate change and health: An explication of the Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Witness: Canadian Journal of Critical Nursing Discourse, 3 (2). https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.114

Nicholas, P. K., Breakey, S., Tagliareni, E., Simmonds, K, & Sabo, K. (2021). Climate change and population health: Incorporating stages of nursing’s political development. Nursing Outlook, 69(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2020.08.001

Zang, S.M., Benjenk, I., Breakey, S., Pusey-Reid, E., B, & Nicholas, P.K. (2021). The intersection of climate change with COVID-19. Public Health Nursing, 38(2):321-335. doi: 10.1111/phn.12866.

Nicholas, P.K., Breakey, S., McKinnon, S., Zeman Eddy, E., Fanuele, J., & Starodub, R. (2021). A CLIMATE: A framework for assessment of climate-change related health consequences in the emergency department. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 47(4),532-542.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2020.10.

Nicholas, P. K., Breakey, S., & Blank, P. (2020). Health consequences of climate change in older adults. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners,16, 433-437.
Brown, M. J., White, B. P., & Nicholas, P. K. (2022). Mental health impacts of climate change: Considerations for nurse practitioners. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 18, 359-363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.07.013

Nicholas, P.K., Breakey, S., White, B., Brown, M.J., Fanuele, J., Starodub, R., & Viamonte Ros, A. (2020). Mental health impacts of climate change: Perspectives for the emergency department clinician. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 46(5), 590-599. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2020.05.014

Author Details

Patrice K. Nicholas, DNSc, DHL (Hon), MPH, MS, RN, NP, FAAN

Sigma Membership

Upsilon Lambda, Theta at-Large

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Expert Opinion (nationally/internationally recognized)

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Climate Change, Health Consequences, Nursing Profession Role

Conference Name

36th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Seattle, Washington, USA

Conference Year

2025

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.

Review Type

Invited Presentation

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Click on the above link to access the slide deck.

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Health Consequences of Climate Change in the 21st Century: The Role of the Nursing Profession

Seattle, Washington, USA

Health consequences of climate change are occurring due to increasing carbon dioxide levels, rising temperatures, extreme weather, and rising sea levels contributing to complex public health issues. Significant adverse health sequelae include asthma, cardiovascular disease, respiratory allergies, heat-related illness, vector-borne diseases, and mental health impacts. The nursing profession has a critical role addressing the health impacts of climate change in a climate-changing world.