Tag - Nature-Based Solutions

This webinar explores how our food systems shape both human and planetary health—and the role nurses can play in leading change. Featuring speaker Christina Vollbrecht MA, MS, RDN, Community Culinary Dietitian at Boston Medical Center, this webinar examines the connections between nutrition, environmental sustainability, and public health through topics such as the One Health approach, the parallels between soil and gut microbiomes, and the environmental impact of food production. Our speaker highlights practical, culturally sensitive strategies for promoting environmentally responsible nutrition, advocating for sustainable food sourcing, and strengthening local food system resilience. 

Planetary health challenges such as climate change and vector-borne diseases threaten human health and well-being. Health care professionals such as registered nurses play an integral role in supporting populations affected by planetary health challenges. The purpose of the cross-sectional study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered nurses in Canada related to climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases. A national self-administered digital survey was distributed to practicing registered nurses in Canada. Of the 382 survey respondents, 35 respondents self-declared as Indigenous. Research findings suggest that nurses’ knowledge on climate change and vector-borne diseases was limited, especially among frontline nurses and those in Western and Northern regions of Canada. Indigenous participants also reported greater knowledge, confidence, and preparedness regarding climate change and vector-borne diseases than nurses who did not report Indigeneity. This may be linked to intergenerational knowledge transfer, which supports the ability to observe and adapt to environmental changes, including shifting patterns of disease. The study validates that while climate-related issues are important for nurses, nurses must be better prepared to address vector-borne diseases in practice and assume a greater role in leading change. Indigenous nurses are uniquely positioned to lead the decolonization of the nursing profession by integrating Indigenous knowledge to prepare nurses for planetary health challenges and to advocate for a climate resilient future.

Dr. Vera presents on foundational concepts of the determinants of planetary health from an Indigenous perspective and her subsequent work in Aotearoa New Zealand studying Māori and Indigenous women's experiences of embodiment on Land as a path to healing and Indigenous (well)being.

This session examines the critical intersection between health, nursing practice, and disaster preparedness in an era of increasing extreme weather events. Learners will explore how social determinants of health influence the vulnerability and resilience of patients, families, and communities to disasters locally and globally. Emphasis will be placed on identifying health outcomes associated with natural and climate-related disasters, understanding the essential roles and responsibilities of nurses in emergency preparedness and response, and developing core leadership competencies necessary for effective disaster management. Through a focus on prevention, preparedness, and action, nurses will learn to implement evidence-based strategies that reduce disaster risk and promote equitable, community-centered responses to emergency situations.