Navigating sustainable practice: environmental awareness and climate change as mediators of green competence of nurses
Nora Mahdy Attia, Alaa Eldin Moustafa Hamed, Mohamed Adel Abd Elhafeez Elbakry, Abeer Moustafa Barakat, Heba Sobhy Mohamed
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The sustainability of biological, social, and economic systems is essential to safeguarding our collective future and maintaining a balanced relationship between humans and the natural environment. Addressing environmental concerns requires the active involvement of all societal sectors, integrating sustainability awareness into everyday practices and business processes through optimal technology use. This study aims to examine the mediating role of climate change and environmental awareness in the relationship between sustainable practices and green competence among nurses. SUBJECT AND METHODS: A random sample of 230 nurses was selected from Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospital in Zagazig, Egypt. A descriptive correlational design was used. Five validated instruments were used to assess sociodemographic characteristics, green competence, nurses' perceptions of climate change, environmental awareness, and sustainable development behaviors. RESULTS: The results of the current study show that green competence was significantly and positively correlated to nurses' sustainable practice, environmental awareness and climate change. CONCLUSION: Environmental awareness and climate change were mediated of relationship between sustainable practice and green competence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The findings of this study have significant implications for nursing management and the broader healthcare sector. By elucidating the relationships among green competence, nurses' sustainable practices, environmental awareness, and climate change, this research offers actionable insights for healthcare leaders. Nursing managers can enhance workplace safety and environmental responsibility by supporting green management systems and implementing ongoing green management programs to improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward sustainability. Furthermore, healthcare facilities should be encouraged to adopt environmental awareness and green management practices to address climate change and foster sustainable practices across the healthcare workforce. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.