Embedding planetary health in nursing education: exploring the barriers and enablers to implementing changes in undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing curriculum

Abstract

Due to the escalating severity of the impact of climate change on human and ecological health and its implications for nursing practice, it is imperative that planetary health is embedded into the undergraduate nursing curriculum. This rapid review was undertaken to identify the barriers and enablers to implementing planetary health into the undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing curriculum. Databases (PubMed, Education Source, CINAHL, and Scopus) were searched for relevant studies between 2013 and 2023. Seven papers were eligible for review. The studies demonstrated that adequate knowledge, skill development, social support, a supportive organization, and access to adequate resources were required to embed changes into the curriculum. This study has identified enablers that can be leveraged to successfully integrate planetary health into the undergraduate nursing curriculum, preparing nurses who are working in a practice environment impacted by climate change.