IMPORTANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN NURSING EDUCATION

Abstract

Background: Climate change poses a serious threat to human health through extreme weather events, widespread disease, and increased strain on healthcare systems. Nurses, as frontline caregivers, play a crucial role in mitigating these impacts. However, limited integration of climate change and sustainability content within nursing education has created a gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. This study investigated the impact of climate change on health awareness among nursing students, their perceptions of sustainability in healthcare, the theory–practice gap, and the benefits of integrating climate change education into nursing curricula.

Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 359 nursing students. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire based on the Sustainability Attitudes in Nursing Survey and the Experiencing Scale. The study variables included Climate Change Literacy, Experiential Learning Exposure, Sustainability Integration Beliefs, and Sustainable Clinical Practice. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis through Hayes PROCESS (Model 4).

Results: The findings indicated that Climate Change Literacy and Sustainable Clinical Practice were at moderate-to-high levels. Significant positive correlations were observed among all study variables. Mediation analysis revealed that Sustainability Integration Beliefs partially mediated the relationship between Climate Change Literacy and Sustainable Clinical Practice, as well as between Experiential Learning Exposure and Sustainable Clinical Practice. These results highlight the important role of sustainability beliefs in translating knowledge and experiential learning into practical clinical application.

Conclusion: The study concludes that integrating climate change and sustainability concepts into nursing education, along with enhanced experiential learning opportunities, can strengthen students’ capacity to implement sustainable clinical practices. Strengthening sustainability beliefs within educational frameworks is essential to bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application in healthcare settings.

Keywords: Climate change literacy, Experiential learning, Sustainability integration beliefs, Sustainable clinical practice, Nursing education, Sustainability, Sustainable Healthcare, Clinical Practice, Climate Change, Environmental Health, Health Promotion, Nursing Curriculum