9:15am - 9:30am (CDT) | 3064.0 - Proposing the planetary health education framework as a middle range theory for public health nursing praxisa

Session: Public Health Nursing Research Symposium

Program: Public Health Nursing

Author: Aline Maybank, MPHc, BS

Abstract

Statement of the Problem

Public health nursing faces increasing challenges due to complex, interrelated global issues impacting human and environmental health. Current theoretical frameworks often fail to adequately address these complexities. Thus, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive theoretical framework that integrates planetary health principles into public health nursing praxis.

Approach

In collaboration with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, we applied the Planetary Health Education Framework (PHEF) as a middle-range theory for revising Nurses Drawdown, an action-based framework for nurses promoting environmental health and sustainability across practice, advocacy, research, leadership, and elderhood. Grounded in the principles of planetary health, PHEF acknowledges the interconnectedness of human and environmental health and emphasizes the importance of promoting health equity, sustainability, and resilience.

Product

The PHEF outlines a structured approach for public health nurses to address planetary health challenges at individual, community, and societal levels. It incorporates principles of ecological thinking, systems theory, and social justice to guide nursing interventions aimed at promoting holistic health and mitigating environmental threats. By revising Nurses Drawdown through the lens of the PHEF, we can provide tangible action items for public health nurses across multiple facets of public health nursing praxis.

Implications

Implementation of the PHEF has far-reaching implications for public health nursing practice, education, and research. By adopting this framework, nurses can enhance their capacity to address emergent global health challenges, advocate for policy change, and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to promote health and well-being for both present and future generations.