Climate Change Integration in Nursing Academic Curricula and Continuing Education: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Background and PurposeThe consequences of climate change on individuals' and communities' health are numerous. Nurses are among the healthcare professionals most confronted with the climate crisis, and have great potential to limit its impact on vulnerable populations. However, our knowledge of educational options for preparing nurses to address climate change remains limited. The aim of this scoping review was to examine how climate change is integrated into the academic curricula or continuing education of nurses.Methods and ProceduresArksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework was used to conduct this scoping review. Documentary search strategies were developed and tested in four databases, and a search of the grey literature was carried out. A two-stage selection process was implemented. Data from 16 scientific articles were extracted and 11 grey literature references were included in the analyses. A narrative summary allowed to synthesize the findings.ResultsAcademic and healthcare organizations are increasingly implementing innovative and participatory educational initiatives to raise nurses' awareness of climate change's health impacts and encourage students and nurses to act in their daily lives and clinical practice. Challenges include a dense curriculum, the absence of a climate competency framework, and theoretical content being presented in an unstimulating manner.ConclusionsThe use of innovative, interactive teaching methods, reference to a theoretical model centered on planetary health, and climate change content distributed throughout the curriculum are some ways to stimulate students' interest in climate issues. Collaborative efforts involving academia and organizations are needed to foster nurses' awareness and encourage a variety of climate-oriented actions with planetary reach.