Achieving consensus on the essential knowledge and skills needed by nursing students to promote planetary health and sustainable healthcare: A Delphi study

Aim

To achieve consensus on the knowledge and skills that undergraduate/pre-licensure nursing students require to steward healthcare towards a more sustainable future.

Design

A two-phase real-time Delphi study.

Methods

Phase 1 included the generation of Planetary Health, climate change and sustainability knowledge and skill statements based on a review of relevant literature. Phase 2 consisted of a real-time Delphi survey designed to seek consensus on the proposed statements from a panel of 42 international experts.

Results

Of the 49 survey statements, 44 (90%) achieved ≥75% consensus and 26 (53%) achieved ≥80% consensus. Three were removed and 32 were modified to improve clarity of language.

Conclusion

The knowledge and skills statements that emerged through this Delphi study can serve as a guide for incorporating Planetary Health, climate change and sustainability into nursing education programs.

Implications for the Profession

Incorporating Planetary Health and climate change education into nursing programs has the potential to produce more environmentally conscious and socially responsible nurses.

Impact

The absence of consensus on the essential knowledge and skills expected of nursing students has hindered the advancement of curricula and impacted educators' confidence in teaching Planetary Health and climate change. This study has resulted in a meticulously crafted framework of knowledge and skill statements that will be beneficial to educators, the future nursing workforce, and, ultimately, the individuals and communities whom nurses serve.