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The Intersection of Nursing Education, Public Health and Climate Change
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The Intersection of Nursing Education, Public Health and Climate Change

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2025 | Viewed by 10612

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Roberta Proffitt Lavin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Health Equity and Preparedness, College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Interests: disaster nursing; underserved populations; health equity in preparedness; climate change impacts of disaster
Dr. Mary Pat Couig

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Center for Health Equity and Preparedness, College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Interests: public health preparedness; health equity in preparedness; nursing workforce
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change is increasing the frequency of natural disasters and public health emergencies. Long-term health impacts often disproportionately affect women and the most marginalized and are resulting in nurses feeling unprepared for what has now become routine. From hurricanes and tsunamis to wildfires and new infectious diseases, the health impacts endure after the immediate crisis, and nursing education needs to address the challenges that will be faced. The provision of high-quality, evidence-based nursing that addresses the changing needs resulting from climate change begins with the intersection between nursing education and public health. Before the changes needed to meet this new challenge can be addressed, there must be advanced nursing research, readily available real-time technology that identifies local risks and education material, systematic and integrative reviews, innovative technology-driven evidence-based nursing education, and community engagement. Papers addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue, especially those that combine academic research and practical applications readily available to all nursing programs.

Prof. Dr. Roberta Proffitt Lavin
Dr. Mary Pat Couig
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nursing education
  • public health
  • climate change
  • health equality
  • marginalized communities
  • disaster
  • public health emergency

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2923 KiB  
Article
School of Nursing Climate Commitment: Nursing Faculty Bring Climate to the Classroom
by Shanda Demorest, Cara Cook, Elizabeth Schenk, Lisa Whitfield Harris and Andrea Earley
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050589 - 3 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1789
Abstract
In 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) added “the impact of climate change on environmental and population health” into The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Presently, little guidance exists for nursing faculty new to climate education. The year [...] Read more.
In 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) added “the impact of climate change on environmental and population health” into The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Presently, little guidance exists for nursing faculty new to climate education. The year prior, the Nurses Climate Challenge (NCC)—a campaign to educate 50,000 health professionals about health impacts of climate change—launched the School of Nursing Commitment through a series of focus groups and collaborative content development. With an aim of increasing access to knowledge and tools to support education about the health impacts of climate change, the NCC Commitment partners with nursing schools and provides a community of practice. Partner schools use NCC resources in courses and report the number of students educated. Within three years, 61 nursing schools in 30 states joined the Commitment. Participants included academic health centers, research institutions, multi-state schools, and small private colleges, and programs ranged from AD to PhD. Faculty (1) integrated resources into didactic and clinical settings, such as population or organ-system content, leadership, and policy; and (2) used resources to support assignments. In four years, faculty reported educating over 37,700 students, using NCC resources in 439 educational sessions. The Commitment may be valuable for faculty fulfilling AACN Essentials by bringing climate change to the classroom, community, and bedside. Furthermore, the Commitment may be a replicable model for health professional education and inspiring action on climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Intersection of Nursing Education, Public Health and Climate Change)
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23 pages, 400 KiB  
Article
Tailoring Household Disaster Preparedness Interventions to Reduce Health Disparities: Nursing Implications from Machine Learning Importance Features from the 2018–2020 FEMA National Household Survey
by Meghna Shukla, Taryn Amberson, Tara Heagele, Charleen McNeill, Lavonne Adams, Kevin Ndayishimiye and Jessica Castner
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050521 - 23 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1684
Abstract
Tailored disaster preparedness interventions may be more effective and equitable, yet little is known about specific factors associated with disaster household preparedness for older adults and/or those with African American/Black identities. This study aims to ascertain differences in the importance features of machine [...] Read more.
Tailored disaster preparedness interventions may be more effective and equitable, yet little is known about specific factors associated with disaster household preparedness for older adults and/or those with African American/Black identities. This study aims to ascertain differences in the importance features of machine learning models of household disaster preparedness for four groups to inform culturally tailored intervention recommendations for nursing practice. A machine learning model was developed and tested by combining data from the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Federal Emergency Management Agency National Household Survey. The primary outcome variable was a composite readiness score. A total of 252 variables from 15,048 participants were included. Over 10% of the sample self-identified as African American/Black and 30.3% reported being 65 years of age or older. Importance features varied regarding financial and insurance preparedness, information seeking and transportation between groups. These results reiterate the need for targeted interventions to support financial resilience and equitable resource access. Notably, older adults with Black racial identities were the only group where TV, TV news, and the Weather Channel was a priority feature for household disaster preparedness. Additionally, reliance on public transportation was most important among older adults with Black racial identities, highlighting priority needs for equity in disaster preparedness and policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Intersection of Nursing Education, Public Health and Climate Change)
11 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
Culture of Safety and Preparedness: Benefits of Applying a Daily Mitigation Mindset in the Hospital Setting
by Anne Reid Griffin, Aram Dobalian, Joanne C. Langan and Sallie J. Shipman
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(2), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020221 - 13 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1713
Abstract
Aim: Utilizing the subjective experience of nurse executives who have supervised nurses during a major disaster in a hospital setting, this study aims to describe the subjective experience of nurse executives (NE) who have supervised nurses’ responses to major disasters. This paper will [...] Read more.
Aim: Utilizing the subjective experience of nurse executives who have supervised nurses during a major disaster in a hospital setting, this study aims to describe the subjective experience of nurse executives (NE) who have supervised nurses’ responses to major disasters. This paper will focus on strategies to support nursing response to disasters, specifically to strengthen resiliency and the ability to maintain function despite the shock of a disaster, including those caused by climate change. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 hospital-based nurse executives who supervised nurses during some of the worst natural and human-made disasters in different regions of the United States. A phenomenological approach was used to analyze and describe emerging themes from the qualitative data. Results: Three nurse executives demonstrated theme saturation for mitigation steps to augment traditional disaster readiness activities: (1) Assessment of human infrastructure: daily skills needed during disaster response; (2) Identification and study of failure points and metrics; (3) Strengthening human infrastructure: rectifying deficiencies; and (4) Monitoring metrics and making corrections during conventional periods. Conclusion: Mitigation steps may improve outcomes in hospital function during conventional times; therefore, these steps may improve resiliency and the ability to maintain functions during major disasters, including climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Intersection of Nursing Education, Public Health and Climate Change)
15 pages, 338 KiB  
Article
Adolescents Concerned about Climate Change: A Hermeneutic Study
by Kailie Drumm and Roxanne Vandermause
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(22), 7063; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20227063 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2007
Abstract
Climate change is a public health threat on a global scale. Over the last two decades, research has uncovered the myriad health effects of climate change and its associated costs. The literature is also beginning to show the direct and indirect effects of [...] Read more.
Climate change is a public health threat on a global scale. Over the last two decades, research has uncovered the myriad health effects of climate change and its associated costs. The literature is also beginning to show the direct and indirect effects of climate change to be an indicator of increased adverse mental health outcomes including excessive worry, anxiety, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The development of scales to measure some of these effects in adult populations has shown the critical need to understand the various ways climate change affects mental well-being in adolescent populations who are at a critical juncture in psychological development. The purposes of this study were to understand the lived experience of adolescents who are concerned about climate change and uncover the meaning of climate change concern for adolescents as informed by emerging patterns. This study utilized Hermeneutic Phenomenology as a philosophical foundation and methodological approach for data retrieval and analysis. An interview-based approach with a purposeful sample (n = 11, aged 12–17 years) revealed the multi-layered elements of climate change concern and its effects. Three patterns emerged: Climate Change as a Temporal Threat and Pressure, Awareness and Concern as a Continuum, and Experiencing Concern and Making Meaning. These findings may now inform interdisciplinary knowledge on upstream mitigation efforts and the promotion of positive outcomes relating to climate change. The need for focused educational attention to adolescent behaviors and concerns is explicated and exemplified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Intersection of Nursing Education, Public Health and Climate Change)
15 pages, 5082 KiB  
Article
Facilitating an Interprofessional Course on Climate Change and Public Health Preparedness
by Heidi Honegger Rogers, Megan Tucker, Mary Pat Couig and Vanessa Svihla
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(10), 5885; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105885 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2327
Abstract
In this paper, we share the theories that guided the design of an interprofessional education course on Climate Change and Public Health Preparedness and how the course supported students’ professional interest and action competence as they move through their education and into their [...] Read more.
In this paper, we share the theories that guided the design of an interprofessional education course on Climate Change and Public Health Preparedness and how the course supported students’ professional interest and action competence as they move through their education and into their professional work in the context of our unfolding climate crisis. The course was guided by the public health emergency preparedness domains and was built to allow for students to explore applications of the content for themselves and their own profession. We designed the learning activities to support personal and professional interest development and help students move into perceived and demonstrated action competence. For the evaluation of our course, we asked the following research questions: What kinds of personal and professional commitments to action did students propose by the end of the course? Did these vary in depth and specificity and by the number of credits they enrolled in? In what ways did students develop personal and professional action competence over the course? Finally, how did they show personal, professional, and collective agency related to the course content on adaptation, preparedness, and mitigation of the health impacts from climate change? Using qualitative analysis guided by action competence and interest development theories, we coded student writing from course assignments. We also conducted comparative statistical analysis to assess differential impacts for students who enrolled for one versus three credits. The results show that this course design supported students’ progression of knowledge and perceived ability in specific individual and professional collective actions to reduce the health impacts of climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Intersection of Nursing Education, Public Health and Climate Change)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Training Nurses for Mass Migrations Resulting From Climate Change

Authors: Mary Pat Couig
Affiliation: University of New Mexico

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