Nurse educators' perceptions of ecoliteracy in undergraduate nursing programs

Abstract

Knowledge about the relationship between human health and the environment is continuously expanding. Nurses are well positioned to address environmental and ecological health concerns related to human health. Yet, there is evidence that nurses’ lack of environmental health training is a barrier to incorporating environmental health concepts into practice. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative research study was to explore and describe nurse educators’ perceptions of ecoliteracy in undergraduate nursing programs within the province of Manitoba. Semi-structured telephone interviews were utilized to collect data from 13 nurse educators in three regions of Manitoba. Thematic content analysis identified seven themes. A key finding is that, while nurse educators feel that ecoliteracy is important for nurses at the undergraduate level, there are many challenges to achieving ecoliteracy within undergraduate nursing programs in Manitoba. Potential strategies for overcoming these barriers and recommendations for increasing ecoliteracy among nurse educators are identified.