Are you passionate about nursing and the environment? Do you have something you want to learn? Or want to share? The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ Forums and Committees are a great way to get involved and to connect and collaborate with nursing professionals around the country. 

We have divided our activities into 4 main Forums: Education, Practice, Research, and Policy/Advocacy and two Committees: Climate Change and Food & Agriculture. Each of the Forums and Committees meet once a month or bi-monthly via a free conference call or webinar to partake in educational presentations, share progress, and strategize about collective efforts. We are a WONDERFUL and WELCOMING group of nurses. 

Nurses and nursing students of all levels of expertise and experience are welcome to join. Your interest is the only prerequisite for participation!! Learn more about the various Forums and Committees below. 

Areas of Concern

ANHE is committed to addressing the following areas, along with emerging environmental health issues:

• Water, air, and food quality
• Climate & Health
• Toxic chemicals
• Energy use and sustainable energy
• Resource conservation and waste
• Built environment 

ANHE Forums

Practice

Nursing Professional Standard 17 states: “The Registered Nurse practices in an environmentally safe and healthy manner.” The Practice Forum welcomes nurses from all areas who would like to help meet this important standard. Learn from nurse leaders in healthcare sustainability, explore environmental issues in different practice areas, share lessons learned, and connect with nurses who believe that environmental health is a key component of nursing practice. 

Policy/Advocacy

The Policy/Advocacy Forum focuses on bringing the voice of nursing to local, state, and national environmental health policy and advocacy initiatives. The monthly Forum calls provide an opportunity to hear from national leaders on environmental health policy, learn more about key policy issues and how nurses can become engaged, and develop the skills needed to become a successful nurse advocate.

Education

The Education Forum aims to integrate environmental health content into all levels of nursing curriculum, including basic, advanced, and continuing education. This is being accomplished through authoring and sharing the online e-textbook Environmental Health and Nursing, developing and expanding environmental health curriculum recommendations and teaching strategies for nursing faculty, providing continuing education for practicing nurses, and engaging nurses in the shared goal of advancing environmental health nursing education.

Research

The Research Forum  frames and supports an agenda for enabling nurses to solve environmental challenges to health through the creation of new knowledge. Whether you are a novice or experienced nurse researcher, this Forum can provide you with support, funding ideas, and connections with environmental health nurse researchers.

Global Nurses Climate Change Committee

The Global Nurses Climate Change Committee views climate change impacts from a global lens and works to incorporate elements of practice, education, research, and policy/advocacy as it relates to solutions to address this health crisis. The committee’s current work includes developing educational resources that can be utilized by all specialties of nursing, identifying avenues for advocacy at local, state, and federal levels, and working within nursing organizations to lead and act on climate change. This committee encourages participation on an international level, as global unification is vital to advancing action to reduce health threats posed by climate change.

Food and Agriculture Committee

The Food & Agriculture Committee focuses on the relationship between how we grow/raise our food and equitably distribute healthy and safe food to all people. Sustainable farming and food systems, farmworker health and safety, pesticide use, and food insecurity are included in the wide range of committee interests. The Committee calls provide opportunities for nurses to delve deeper into these important issues through webinars, discussions, and collective action. 

For more information on the individual Forums or Committees click on the links to the forum pages above or contact info@envirn.org