Building Sustainability Competencies in Future Nurses

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.

Conditions

• Sustainability
• Competencies
• Nursing Education

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Sustainability Training

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

OTHER

Standard Nursing Curriculum

Nursing students do not receive the sustainability training

OTHER

No Training

Nursing students do not receive the sustainability training

BEHAVIORAL

Clinical Practice

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

OTHER

Standard Clinical Practice

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

OTHER

No Clinical Practice

Nursing students do not participate in clinical hospital rotations during the study period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Çankırı Karatekin University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-01

Primary Completion

2026-06-30

Completion

2026-12-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations