The Role of the Professional Nursing Association in Creating A Culture of Environmental Responsibility

H2E TeleconferenceNovember 14, 2003

Kathryn V. Hall, RN, MSExecutive Director, Maryland Nurses Association

Responsibilites

Nurses do have a responsibility in preventing pollution and

Nursing Associations have a responsibility to provide leadership and education to nurses to facilitate their involvement

Education is key

Nurses are not environmentalists Nurses are great at processing

information and applying principles when they have information and data

Nursing Associations are a natural for providing education

Strategic Planning

Nursing Association’s must build an environmental focus into their strategic plans Having the Board of Directors engaged is

critical

Association Committees

Strategically, an environmental focus should span across all Association committees Practice and Education Workplace Advocacy Legislative

Activities need to be focused on providing nurses with the tools and information they need to affect change within their employment setting

Possible Association Activities

Publish a regular column in the Association newsletter or magazine

Develop position papers Host environmental presentations at

annual or special meetings Join environmentally responsible

coalitions

Nurses are

Providers at risk for environmental injury

Advocates for safe patient care Consumers and Activists

Leadership

Professional Nursing Associations must assume a leadership role to equip nurses with the information and tools to improve the health care environment