Climate change and disaster nursing in the United States

Abstract

This paper examines the role that climate change has played in disasters in the United States, with a special emphasis on nurses’ roles in disaster management. Climate change has led to greater global warming, extreme droughts, more severe hurricanes, and rising sea levels that cause flooding. These disasters especially pose challenges for the poorest and most vulnerable, and they test the leadership of nurses in disaster and emergency management. In addition to educational initiatives, nurse leaders can provide credentialling and accreditation for those who need further specialization in disaster nursing. Indeed, nurses are critical educators, advocates, activists, and policy planners for initiatives that affect population health locally and globally.