| Sumario: | Significance & Background: Healthcare is a significant contributor to global warming. As nurses, we are uniquely positioned to advocate and implement changes to protect health and our climate. After attending the lecture entitled "The Impact of Climate Change on Cancer Care" at the 2024 ONS Congress, our team was inspired to create a department specific climate action group. We demonstrated that small, targeted interventions can make a considerable reduction in our unit's carbon footprint. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to introduce unit specific changes to increase recycling, minimize paper waste, conserve energy, and reduce Styrofoam use. Interventions: We worked with an interdisciplinary team to translate our ideas into actionable changes. Recycle bins were placed in all patient rooms and visuals were created to encourage their use. To conserve paper, our team revised our nursing worksheets and stopped printing documents that exist online. Styrofoam cups were replaced with a recyclable option and patients were encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles to infusion appointments. At the end of each work day, staff turned off all equipment and patient room lights. Results: Data was collected over 16 weeks and then used to project annual outcomes. Based on this data, our unit is diverting an average of 94.5 pounds of recyclables from the landfill per year. Energy savings, as calculated by our organization's senior electrician, are estimated at 17.3 megawatts yearly. That's enough to power 1.7 houses per year! Paper consumption is reduced by more than 7 reams annually and Styrofoam use has drastically diminished since replacing our cups with a recyclable option. Discussion: By implementing practical, unit-specific changes, we made a positive impact on the climate by decreasing our department's carbon footprint. The success of this project has since ignited a passion among other nurses, gaining momentum at our community infusion sites. Other organizations can find value in adapting our interventions, thereby reducing their own carbon footprint, protecting human health, and preserving our planet.
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