Tag - Practice

PFAS are commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their extreme persistence in the environment and human body. PFAS cross the placental barrier, accumulate in the growing fetus, are excreted in breast milk, and have been linked with a wide range of health effects including high cholesterol, several cancers, infertility, and low birth weight. This webinar discusses the scope of PFAS exposure in Michigan as well as resources for the clinician, including ANHE’s PFAS Toolkit, as well as advocacy opportunities.

Toxic chemicals in plastics have been linked to cancers, damage to the immune and reproductive systems, impaired intellectual functions, developmental delays, and other serious health conditions. With more than 4,200 of these chemicals being identified as substances of concern, plastic additives and substances in food packaging and the capacity of chemical additives to migrate into food and drinks is a growing concern. This webinar will also discuss opportunities for nursing action at the federal level and, if applicable, the state level.

The ANHE Practice Forum presents the webinar “Medical Waste Incineration, Impact on Human Health, and Opportunities for Nursing Action.” In the United States (US), the number of operating medical waste incinerators has declined greatly, from more than 6,200 in 1988 to 33 in 2013. Remaining medical waste incinerators have been linked to a range of adverse health effects and environmental justice concerns. Featuring speakers Greg Sawtell, Carlos Sanchez, Deanna Benner, and Jeremy Greene, this webinar provides an overview of the health impacts of medical waste incineration and discusses opportunities for nursing action. We hear from members of the Curtis Bay Community Land Trust, a group that is creating communications with hospital systems that transport waste to Curtis Bay medical waste incinerator (the largest medical waste incinerator in the US!) and health professionals who are taking action on medical waste incineration at their hospital.

Wireless non-iodizing radiation has serious biological and health effects and the amount of RFR in our everyday environment increases daily. The telecom industry has us addicted to our "devices." Pregnant women and children are most at risk for the health effects of RFR. Learn the sources of RFR and how to decrease exposure to them in the environment.

Historic investments made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), present an opportunity to make lasting, positive health outcomes for all Americans. The Inflation Reduction Act offers incentives for businesses, school districts, governments, and health systems to transition to zero-emission vehicles and renewable energy. This webinar will provide examples of programs implemented through IRA funding, specifically relating to electric school buses and clean energy programs in health systems. 

In celebration of Labor Day, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments hosted a special webinar event, Just Transition as a Health, Climate, and Workers Rights Solution: Lessons from the Labor Movement, on September 6th, 2022 at 3 - 4 pm ET/12 - 1 pm PT. The urgency of the climate crisis is creating a need to swiftly transition in an equitable way to clean and renewable energy to limit climate impacts. Doing so at the pace required calls for a just transition - a plan to move the economy away from its current extractive, fossil-fuel reliance to one that is robust and sustainable and places the health of people, workers, communities, and the planet as its priority.

On this webinar, speakers from the Labor Network for Sustainability share more information about their recent work around just transition in California and nationwide. This will include an overview of the Young Worker Listening Project, a survey and interview process of workers across economic sectors who have been mobilizing their co-workers, pushing their union locals, and showing up in their communities to take action at the intersection of workers’ rights and the climate crisis. Complete the webinar to learn more about how nurses can support a just transition framework and build and strengthen relationships among the labor, climate, and environmental justice movements as they engage in climate solutions.

Dr. Claire Richards shares her program of research on energy insecurity and its relationship to climate breakdown. Dr. Richards then discusses different approaches to describing and addressing co-occurring power outages, wildfire, and extreme heat in the Pacific Northwest.

A majority of current climate-related efforts focus on mitigating emissions. However, even if we were to cease global greenhouse gas emissions today, we would still deal with the climate change we have already committed to. Recent disasters have shown the physical, emotional, social, and financial devastation of climate change-related events. Repeatedly, those affected appear to be underprepared and dependent on reaction and recovery from external resources that are increasingly overburdened. Adaptation is the preparation and proactive approach and is a needed strategy to address climate change. Hear from Dr. Kent Boyd about his path to becoming a climate adaptation and resilience expert and learn about adaptation strategies, such as resilience hubs.

This webinar is part 9 of the series Nursing on the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis: Education for Action, developed through a collaboration between the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Nursing - Climate Resources for Health Education, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment, and Climate Action Nurses. This presentation discusses climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience strategies. Nurses will learn how healthcare systems can reduce their greenhouse gas footprint and adapt to changing climate conditions.