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Laron Nelson

Nurses can play a central role in mitigating and adapting to current and future health threats from climate change. This course provides nurses with tailored information about climate change related stressors and how they impact the health of populations and communities around the world. This course will also provide actionable steps, focused primarily on adaptation, that nurses can take to address and prepare for these health impacts at the individual level, the health-system level, and the community level. Within this course, climate-related health impacts will be discussed utilizing the conceptual framework of planetary health. Planetary health refers to "the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends" (Lancet).

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Nurses can play a central role in mitigating and adapting to current and future health threats from climate change. This course provides nurses with tailored information about climate change related stressors and how they impact the health of populations and communities around the world. This course will also provide actionable steps, focused primarily on adaptation, that nurses can take to address and prepare for these health impacts at the individual level, the health-system level, and the community level. Within this course, climate-related health impacts will be discussed utilizing the conceptual framework of planetary health. Planetary health refers to "the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends" (Lancet).

This course was co-developed by the Yale School of Nursing in collaboration with the Alliance for Nurses for Health Environments and Healthcare Without Harm.

This course can be used by health professionals to earn contact hours for continuing education.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to the Course
Welcome to the Planetary Health course!
Drought
In this module, we will discuss droughts: how they are related to climate change, and how they impact human health and communities.
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Flooding
In this module, we will discuss the impact of climate change on flooding, and the impact that flooding has on public health when it occurs.
Extreme Heat
In this module, we will discuss the causes and health impacts of extreme heat events.
Hurricanes
Communicable and Vector-Borne Diseases
Wildfire
In this module, we will discuss the impact of wildfire on individuals, communities, and health systems. We will also discuss the ways in which climate change impacts fire danger in areas prone to wildfire.
Nurse Actions
Final Quiz

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores climate change's impact on health, which is a growing concern in communities worldwide
Emphasizes adaptation strategies for nurses, empowering them to mitigate the health effects of climate change at various levels
Co-developed by reputable organizations like the Yale School of Nursing, Alliance for Nurses for Health Environments, and Healthcare Without Harm
Approaches the topic from the lens of planetary health, providing a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness between human health and the environment
Covers relevant topics such as droughts, flooding, extreme heat, hurricanes, vector-borne diseases, and wildfires, addressing the diverse health impacts of climate change
Provides guidance on actionable steps that nurses can take to address climate-related health issues at the individual, health system, and community levels

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Planetary Health for Nurses with these activities:
Review planetary health concepts
Build up adequate background knowledge on the introductory planetary health concepts before the course begins so that the new materials can consolidate upon them further, resulting in more effective learning.
Browse courses on Planetary Health
Show steps
Review the basics of climate change science
Reviewing the fundamentals of climate change science will provide a stronger foundation for understanding the course material.
Browse courses on Climate Change Science
Show steps
  • Read the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report on Climate Change
  • Watch the documentary film 'An Inconvenient Truth'
  • Take an online course on climate change science, such as the one offered by Coursera
Read the book 'The Sixth Extinction' by Elizabeth Kolbert
Reading the book 'The Sixth Extinction' by Elizabeth Kolbert will give you a deep understanding of the history of climate change and its potential impacts on human health.
Show steps
  • Purchase or borrow a copy of the book
  • Read the book and take notes as you go
  • Write a book review or summary
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Compile materials on climate change and health
Compiling materials on climate change and health will give you a valuable resource that you can use to continue your learning.
Show steps
  • Search the internet for resources on climate change and health
  • Organize the resources into a folder or binder
  • Review the resources regularly and add new resources as you find them
Practice identifying the health impacts of climate change
Practicing identifying the health impacts of climate change will help students develop the skills necessary to assess and address these impacts in their work as nurses.
Browse courses on Climate Change Impacts
Show steps
  • Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) website on climate change and health
  • Complete the World Health Organization's (WHO) online course on climate change and health
  • Participate in a role-playing exercise where you assess and respond to a climate-related health event
Volunteer with a climate change organization
Volunteering with a climate change organization will give you the opportunity to learn more about the topic and to make a difference in your community.
Browse courses on Climate Justice
Show steps
  • Research climate change organizations in your area
  • Find an organization that you are interested in working with
  • Contact the organization and ask about volunteer opportunities
Develop a climate change adaptation plan for your community
Developing a climate change adaptation plan for your community will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills you learn in this course to a real-world problem.
Show steps
  • Identify the climate change risks facing your community
  • Develop a set of adaptation strategies to address these risks
  • Write a climate change adaptation plan that outlines your strategies and how you will implement them
Write a blog post about climate change and health
Writing a blog post about climate change and health will help you to share your knowledge with others and to raise awareness of this important issue.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic for your blog post
  • Research your topic and gather evidence to support your arguments
  • Write your blog post in a clear and concise style
Mentor a nursing student on the topic of climate change and health
Mentoring a nursing student on the topic of climate change and health will help you to solidify your own understanding of the topic and to develop your leadership skills.
Show steps
  • Find a nursing student who is interested in learning more about climate change and health
  • Meet with the student regularly to discuss the topic and answer their questions
  • Help the student to develop a climate change adaptation plan for their community

Career center

Learners who complete Planetary Health for Nurses will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurses provide direct patient care in a variety of settings. A course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Registered Nurses who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health. This can help prepare for the health challenges of climate change.
Nurse Educator
Nurse Educators teach nursing students in a variety of settings. A course in _Planetary Health_ is a useful addition to the skillset of a Nurse Educator because it teaches about the impact of climate change on health. This can help prepare the next generation of nurses to address the health challenges of climate change.
Disaster Relief Nurse
Climate change can exacerbate the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Understanding the impact of climate change on factors such as drought and extreme heat can be important in disaster relief efforts. Additionally, this course may help build a foundation for Disaster Relief Nurses who need to be able to act quickly in a variety of situations.
Travel Nurse
Travel Nurses work in a variety of settings, often in underserved communities. A course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Travel Nurses who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health. This can help prepare for providing care to communities that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Water Resources Manager
Water Resources Managers oversee the planning, development, and management of water resources. A course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Water Resources Managers who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health. This can help prepare for managing water resources in a changing climate.
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants work under a doctor's supervision to diagnose and treat patients. A course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Physician Assistants who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health.
Policy Analyst
Policy Analysts focus on the practical implementation of current and future policy decisions. A course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Policy Analysts who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health. This can help prepare for analyzing health policies related to climate change.
Urban Planner
Urban Planners design and implement plans for the development of urban areas. A course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Urban Planners who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health. This can help ensure to prepare for planning healthy and sustainable communities.
Sustainability Consultant
Sustainability Consultants help organizations develop and implement sustainability strategies. A course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Sustainability Consultants who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health. This can help prepare for advising organizations on climate change related issues.
Health Equity Advocate
Health Equity Advocates strive to improve equity by addressing the social determinants of health. Climate change has the potential to worsen health equity. Therefore, a course in _Planetary Health_ would be useful to Health Equity Advocates who want to build a foundation in climate change and its impact on health.
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Population Health
Clinical Nurse Specialists in Population Health often work with at-risk communities to prevent diseases. Understanding _Planetary Health_ can be a useful approach when dealing with communities that may be more vulnerable to climate change impacts. Therefore, taking this course may be helpful as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Population Health.
Environmental Health Scientist
Environmental Health Scientists are responsible for assessing, advising, and protecting the public from environmental risks. _Planetary Health for Nurses_ may help build a foundation for Environmental Health Scientists who want to better understand the impact of the environment on human health. Though it is not a perfect fit, this course would be useful for those who wish to work on the effects of climate change.
Public Health Program Manager
This 6-week course teaches concepts from _Planetary Health_, which incorporates the health of human civilization with the state of the natural systems it depends on. Understanding how public health decisions can be influenced by the health of a local ecosystem is an important aspect of the _Planetary Health_ model. Therefore, this course may be useful to Public Health Program Managers who want to build a foundation in _Planetary Health_.
Insurance Claims Adjuster
Insurance Claims Adjusters evaluate and settle insurance claims. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Therefore, understanding the impact of climate change on natural disasters may be helpful to Insurance Claims Adjusters.
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Directors are responsible for managing an organizations environmental impact. Courses like _Planetary Health for Nurses_ can help prepare for this role by teaching about environmental issues and their impact on communities. Though it is not a perfect fit, understanding the impact of environmental health on communities would be useful to a Sustainability Director.

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Planetary Health for Nurses.
Examines the health impacts of climate change on indigenous communities. It covers the latest scientific evidence on the physical, mental, and spiritual health effects of climate change on indigenous peoples.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of environmental health sciences, including the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of environmental hazards. It covers topics such as air pollution, water pollution, and toxic chemicals.
This journal publishes high-quality research on environmental health and public health. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the health impacts of environmental factors.
This journal publishes high-quality research on environmental health. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the health impacts of environmental factors.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the social and economic impacts of climate change. It covers topics such as climate change and poverty, climate change and migration, and climate change and food security.
This journal publishes high-quality research on social science and medicine. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the social factors that influence health.
This journal publishes high-quality research on global health. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the health challenges facing the world today.
This journal publishes high-quality research on climate change and health. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the health impacts of climate change.
This journal publishes high-quality research on climate change and health. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the health impacts of climate change.
This journal publishes high-quality research on public health. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the health challenges facing the world today.
This journal publishes high-quality research on health services. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the health challenges facing the world today.
This journal publishes high-quality research on nursing scholarship. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the latest research in nursing.
This journal publishes high-quality research on nursing research. It valuable resource for nurses who want to learn more about the latest research in nursing.

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