Disease prevention and social justice are values shared between nursing and environmental health (ANA, 2007). The cause of many diseases comes from problems in the environment and pollution (Ozdemir & Guler, 2021). Environmental health principles are intended to protect nurses, patients/family, health care workers, and the community (ANA, 2007). It is critical for us to be aware of our surroundings and the impact we have on our environment as we engage in promoting the health and wellbeing of our patients.
Sustainability in Nursing Workplace Assessment
Practice Environment
Sound - Subtle alarms from monitors and mechanical ventilators.
Odor - A mixture of cleaning product from recently emptied rooms, human waste from rooms where patients were recently cleaned up after incontinence, and the scent of sterile things.
Noise - Low noise levels outside of critical alarms and discussions within the interdisciplinary teams.
Light - Large windows in patient rooms allow for natural light during the day, and after 2300 the lights dim on the unit for a therapeutic environment promoting sleep.
Single Use Equipment
Item - Ventilator circuits.
Dose it save money? - Money is saved due to the reduction in cross-contamination.
How is it disposed of? - General trash unless contaminated with copious sputum.
Item - Arterial and central line monitoring devices and transducers.
Dose it save money? - Money is saved due to the reduction in cross-contamination.
How is it disposed of? - General trash unless contaminated with blood.
Item - Pressure bags for fluid/blood and monitoring devices.
Dose it save money? - Not necessarily but it does reduce cross-contamination.
How is it disposed of? - General trash.
Item - Scalpels, scissors, and forceps.
Dose it save money? - Money is saved due to the reduction in cross-contamination.
How is it disposed of? - Sharps containers or general trash.
Item - Patient slings for lifts.
Dose it save money? - Money is saved due to the reduction in cross-contamination.
How is it disposed of? - General trash.
Item - Ambu-masks.
Dose it save money? - Money is saved due to the reduction in cross-contamination.
How is it disposed of? - General trash.
Item - ECG electrodes.
Dose it save money? - Money is saved due to the reduction in cross-contamination.
How is it disposed of? - General trash.
Environment Health Manual
Location of Manual - Centrally located behind the front desk by the charge nurse desk.
Discuss the environmental health policy.
The environmental health policy is focused on the promotion of a culture of safety for staff, students, and visitors, as well as protecting the natural environment (University of Michigan, 2022). Respecting and caring for our environment is critical while assessing the safety and environmental impacts of all activities (University of Michigan, 2022). The Department of Environment, Health, and Safety oversees and manages the responsibility for monitoring safety and environmental standards (University of Michigan, 2022).
What concerns do you have about the regulations?
I have no concerns about the regulations, as the policy encompasses all areas from general patient care to research.
Is there anything missing?
I do not see anything missing in the policy.
Are the policies easy to follow?
The policy is through and detailed but easy to follow.
Cleaning Products Used In Your Facility
Product - Bleach wipes.
Eco Friendly? - No.
Product - Santi-wipes.
Eco Friendly? - No.
Describe the efforts being made at your facility to implement green cleaning?
Efforts are made for staff awareness to make conscious choices when considering actions in day-to-day practice that affects environmental health. Comities are also available within the organization to help enforce environmental health practices and make changes, when possible, to improve practice.
Management of Pharmaceutical Waste
Medication - Oral and small volume IV medications, including controlled substances, excluding chemotherapy.
How is it disposed of? - Specified medication waste bottles in each patient room.
Medication - IV infusion bags.
How is it disposed of? - Medication disposal bins in each patient room.
ANA. (2007). ANA's Principles of Environmental Health for Nursing Practice with Implementation Strategies. Nursesbooks.org
Ozdemir, T., & Guler, G. (2021). The Relationship between Environmental Consumption Consciousness and Behavior of University Students. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 14(2), 1258–1268.
University of Michigan. (2022). Safety, Health and Environmental Policy: Standard practice guides - University of Michigan. https://spg.umich.edu/policy/605.01