Eco-conscious nursing: qualitative analysis of nurses' engagement with environmental sustainability in healthcare

Abstract

Background

Healthcare is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, with impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation. Nurses, as the largest group of healthcare professionals, are uniquely positioned to drive sustainability in healthcare settings. Despite the growing recognition of this role, little is known about their perspectives and engagement with environmental sustainability.

Aim

This study aims to explore the experiences, motivations, and challenges that nurses face in integrating environmental sustainability into their practice.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory design using a phenomenological approach was adopted. Twenty-three nurses from various healthcare departments in Saudi Arabia participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify key themes.

Results

Three major themes emerged: (1) Operationalizing sustainability, where nurses engaged in green initiatives such as waste reduction and energy conservation; (2) Educational and advocacy roles, highlighting nurses’ efforts to raise environmental awareness among peers and patients; (3) Barriers to sustainability, identifying challenges such as lack of institutional support and resources, which hinder nurses' ability to fully implement eco-conscious practices.

Conclusion

Nurses play a pivotal role in promoting sustainability in healthcare, but institutional barriers and resource constraints limit their impact. The findings emphasize the need for organizational policies and targeted interventions to support nurses in driving sustainable practices within healthcare settings.