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Planetary Health for Nurses

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).

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.

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

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Planetary Health for Nurses. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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_.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Life Span Human Development 4e