Navigating sustainable practice: environmental awareness and climate change as mediators of green competence of nurses

• Published in: BMC nursing Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 658 - 11
• Main Authors: Attia, Nora Mahdy, Hamed, Alaa Eldin Moustafa, Elbakry, Mohamed Adel Abd Elhafeez, Barakat, Abeer Moustafa, Mohamed, Heba Sobhy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 17.06.2025; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Chronic illnesses; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Climate change; Climatic changes; Competitive advantage; Data collection; Departments; Egypt; Emergency medical care; Environmental awareness and climate change; Environmental impact; Environmental sustainability; Green competence; Health care industry; Hypotheses; Intensive care; Malaria; Malnutrition; Mediation; Mental disorders; Mental health; Natural resources; Nurses; Nurses’ sustainable practice; Nursing; Sustainable development; Teaching hospitals; Egypt; Green competence; Environmental awareness and climate change; Nurses’ sustainable practice
• ISSN: 1472-6955; 1472-6955
• DOI: 10.1186/s12912-025-03313-4

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. 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. The results of the current study show that green competence was significantly and positively correlated to nurses' sustainable practice, environmental awareness and climate change. Environmental awareness and climate change were mediated of relationship between sustainable practice and green competence. 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. Not applicable.