Section outline

  • Overview and Objectives

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    • Humanity is facing unprecedented environmental challenges with global warming, biodiversity loss, exposure to microplastics, air, water and soil pollution. These impact human health, especially for those who are more vulnerable, exposed, or less represented in decision making. Unintentionally, modern health care is contributing to the problem. Health care in the United States is responsible for 8.5% of the nation’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, and health care around the world is responsible for 4.5% of global emissions.
      Health care has a long history of creative solutions, innovation, and commitment. Using these skills, health care has opportunities to be less polluting, less wasteful, and less consumptive while building resilience, committed to its principles of justice and service. In short, health care can transform itself to be a force for healing not only of the individuals and families we care for, but of our common home, Earth.
      Using a planetary health lens, Dr. Schenk discusses environmental challenges health care professionals and organizations face, sharing effective solutions tested in one of the nation’s largest health systems. 

      Learning Objectives:

      1. Describe relationships between health care and planetary health
      2. Name at least three contributors to healthcare pollution
      3. Discuss solutions for reducing healthcare pollution and building climate resilience

    • Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 17198, for 1 contact hour.

  • Watch Video

  • Evaluation

    In order to receive 1 Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credit, you must complete the course evaluation and receive at least an 80% on the course post-test.

  • Post-Test

    In order to receive 1 Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credit, you must complete the course evaluation and receive at least an 80% on the course post-test.

  • Certificate

  • Presenter Slides

  • Next Steps