ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN NURSING

Environmental Factors in Nursing

Environmental factors affect a persons health and well-being in so many ways. Just like
social determinants of health, environmental factors such as air pollution, location in relation to
clean sources of water, allergies etc all play into a persons overall health. Nurses have an
important role when it comes to environment and the health of their patients. Since nurses have
the most direct contact with patients and are able to have in-depth conversations with them, it
gives nurses a good opportunity to ask the right questions and perform the right assessments to
determine if environmental factors are significantly affecting a patients current and overall
health status.
Although there are many organizations that work to lessen the health risks associated
with the environment, such as the CDC, whos air pollution and respiratory health mission is to
fight against environmental-related respiratory illnesses, including asthma, and studies indoor
and outdoor air pollution (CDC, 2013) it is still the responsibility of nurses to continue to try
and make a difference for their individual patients. Not only by recognizing the signs of
environmental risks in these patients, but also by educating them about said risks and how to
avoid them, as well as advocating for these patients when it comes to ways to improve their
environmental situation. An example of this idea would be a nurse teaching a patient with
asthma about the triggers of asthma attacks and how to avoid said triggers. Overall, nurses have
a strong and influential role in recognizing the importance of the environment in health and
doing what they can with all patients to help lessen environmental health risks.

ENVIRONMENT FACTORS IN NURSING

Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (2013). Air pollution and respiratory health.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/

Georges, B. (May 19, 2015) Health equity and social justice: An improvement tool, Views
From the Field.