Nadine Aktan

Wildfires are increasing globally and pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations, including pregnant individuals, infants, children, older adults, people with mental health conditions, and those with chronic illnesses. Climate change has intensified these events, making them a pressing health equity concern. Nurses play a vital role in communicating prevention strategies, supporting vulnerable populations and other at-risk individuals and families, and advocating for policies that reduce wildfire exposure and advance health equity. This article aims to equip readers with a practical understanding of wildfire-related health impacts and vulnerabilities, as well as the nurse’s role in risk assessment, planning, and response when wildfires occur. Standardizing training and providing resources can strengthen nurses’ capacity to respond to wildfires and other climate-related disasters.

Access to urban green space has been linked to positive health outcomes including enhanced perinatal health. The purpose of this article was to review, summarize, and synthesize what is known about the relationship between urban green space and perinatal health and outline implications for practice, policy, education, and research. Nineteen articles were included in this state-of-the-science review. Overall, it was found that limited access to green space is significantly related to adverse birth outcomes. These findings present an important opportunity for childbirth educators and other clinicians involved in the provision of prenatal and reproductive health care. Through education and intervention, poor perinatal outcomes may be mitigated. Clinical screening and education about the importance of access to and use of urban green space during pregnancy should be an essential component of preconception counseling and antenatal screening for at-risk populations. Policy makers should be made aware of these findings so that impactful change can be made in order to reduce disparities and promote health equity.

The significance of trauma on the nursing workforce is of utmost importance in graduate nursing education. Competing roles of graduate nursing students, such as the demands of nursing practice and advanced education, can increase vulnerability to trauma and chronic stress. Stressors associated with graduate nursing education can significantly impact student and program outcomes. Incorporating a trauma-informed approach to graduate-level education can be an essential component to support the needs of this student population. Creating and sustaining a trauma-informed academic setting requires awareness, open-mindedness, empathy, and incorporating educational practices that promote healing and mitigate harm. Nurse faculty can play a pivotal role in restructuring curriculum design to include principles of a trauma-informed approach. This article reviews what is known about trauma informed care and considers strategies to apply a trauma-informed framework to graduate nursing education.

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Computerized documentation and community health nursing students