Climate and Health

Abstract

Background: Because climate change negatively impacts human health, nurses need skills to mitigate climate change and nurse educators need effective educational strategies to teach climate change content in undergraduate nursing programs. To address this need, we embedded an energy efficiency treasure hunt and Climate for Health Ambassador Training into our prelicensure nursing curricula. Purpose: To evaluate the impact of these educational activities on self-reported knowledge, confidence, and intent to engage in climate action. Methods: A quasi-experimental one-group posttest design examined the effectiveness of 2 educational interventions on increasing knowledge, confidence, and intent to engage in climate action. A convenience sample of prelicensure nursing students completed 2 Likert scale surveys (n = 57, n = 60), with additional open-ended questions. Results: Participants reported increased awareness, knowledge, and intent to act on personal and professional climate-related issues. Conclusion: Our energy efficiency treasure hunt and Climate for Health Ambassador Training were effective educational strategies.