Building Sustainability Competencies in Future Nurses

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Sustainability Training: A \[1 week\] training program focusing on environmental, social, and economic sustainability competencies in nursing care.

Standard Nursing Curriculum: Nursing students do not receive the sustainability training

No Training: Nursing students do not receive the sustainability training

Clinical Practice: Participate in their scheduled clinical hospital rotations and also assessment the clinic throughout sustainability (up to 3 weeks)

Standard Clinical Practice: They participate in their scheduled clinical hospital rotations up to 3 weeks (standard curriculum).

No Clinical Practice: Nursing students do not participate in clinical hospital rotations during the study period

Study summary

Global warming and social justice issues are increasing the complexity of global healthcare delivery. Health systems significantly contribute to environmental harm through carbon emissions, medical waste, and resource overuse. Nurses, as the largest group in healthcare, face workplace hazards and environmental challenges, highlighting the need for institutions to promote sustainable practices and workplace safety. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize integrated social, economic, and environmental sustainability, with health and universal health coverage as key themes. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) underscores nurses' vital role in achieving these goals by linking nursing care to public health, sustainability, climate action, and education. Developing sustainability competencies in nursing education requires practical training in environmentally responsible behaviors within healthcare settings, beyond theoretical knowledge.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• The Sustainability Attitudes in Nursing Survey (SANS-2) — Baseline (Pre-test) and 4 weeks after the intervention (Post-test).
  The Sustainability Attitudes in Nursing Survey consists of 9 items rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale. Total scores range from 9 to 63, where higher scores indicate a more positive/higher level of sustainability attitude. The average of the item scores is calculated and a higher total score indicates a better attitude towards sustainability in nursing. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the original scale was reported as 0.82, while the Turkish version demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha of 0.76.
• Clinical Sustainability Practice — Throughout the clinical rotation period (up to 3 weeks)
  Assessment of students' sustainable behaviors during clinical rotations. Data will be collected regarding four key areas: waste management (proper segregation and reduction), material management (efficient use of medical supplies), water consumption, and energy conservation (turning off unnecessary equipment/lights). Evaluation will be based on Rubric scale. Higher scores indicate better adherence to sustainable healthcare practices.

Trial sites (1)

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