Sustainability Analysis and Quality Improvement in Nursing and Midwifery

There are limited spaces available. The course is funded and supported by the Burdett Trust as part of three new course offers for nurses and midwives.

Course outline 

Nurses and midwives play a crucial role in leading sustainable service innovation and reducing environmental impact through our daily clinical practices. The trust placed in us, as well as our unique position at the centre of healthcare systems and influencing the lives of vulnerable populations at all life stages, makes us the perfect change agents for influencing both individual behaviours and organisational policies. 

Environmental degradation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and the climate emergency present existential threats to human health. Ironically, the environmental footprint of healthcare is substantial – the sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, resource depletion, and waste production. Worldwide, healthcare is responsible for about 4.4% of net global emissions, ranking it among the most resource-intensive sectors. 

This technical course is designed specifically for nurse and midwife service leads who are interested in shaping the future of sustainable care delivery. It combines two essential tools for sustainable healthcare: sustainability in quality improvement (SusQI) and carbon footprinting. You will gain practical skills to integrate environmental and social impact into your decision-making, so that environmental and social sustainability, like cost and quality, becomes a routine consideration in your work. 

Participants will explore:

• How to identify opportunities for sustainable innovation in your own clinical area or team 
• How to apply the SusQI framework to design and lead quality improvement initiatives that are not only patient-centred and cost-effective, but also preventative, lean, low-carbon, and future-focused 
• The fundamentals of carbon footprinting in healthcare 
• Case studies and real-world examples of carbon-informed, sustainable service changes in nursing and midwifery 

The course is interactive and collaborative, with opportunities to network with fellow nurse and midwife leaders, share experiences, and explore practical solutions together. 

No prior experience in carbon footprinting or sustainability is required, though a foundation in quality improvement will be helpful. It will be an advantage to register for and read the foundation material in the Sustainable Innovation for Nurses and Midwives course, as knowledge of the basic concepts will be useful for a better understanding of SusQI and carbon footprinting. However, this course can also be successfully completed on its own. Join us to become a catalyst for change, advancing care that supports both current patients and future generations. 

I am a nurse or a midwife, why should I book this course?

This course is specifically designed to support service leads like you to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based practices and enhance your skills and knowledge. It is designed both for health and social care. 

By completing this course, you will be equipped to effectively plan, implement, and evaluate a sustainability project within your area of work. You will gain practical skills and confidence to integrate sustainable practices into your day-to-day role, contributing to improved outcomes for patients, communities, and the environment. Whether working independently or as part of a wider team, you will be supported to make meaningful, measurable changes that align with the principles of sustainable healthcare. 

By booking this course, you’ll earn valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, ensuring you meet your NMC professional development requirements while improving your expertise.  

It’s a great opportunity to expand your knowledge, stay ahead in your field, and enhance the quality of care you provide to your patients.  

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to: 

• Define a problem and set sustainability goals. 
• Study the system and assess resource use locally. 
• Apply the principles of sustainable clinical practice. 
• Measure ‘sustainable value’ using a multi-dimensional approach of environmental, social, financial and patient outcomes.
• Understand what a carbon footprint is, why it is important to measure it, and how the two main carbon footprinting methodologies differ. 
• Identify the steps in estimating a carbon footprint of a quality improvement project or clinical pathway. 
• Find and use carbon conversion factors. 
• Recognise good practice in carbon footprinting studies in healthcare. 
• Practice SusQI and carbon footprinting on a small/simple quality improvement project.