Nurse the planet, heal the future

The field of nursing practice is radically shifting. There are nine planetary boundaries that must not be exceeded if life on this planet is to continue as we know it. Seven of those boundaries have already been exceeded. In response, nursing has expanded its circle of care to include all life on the planet. We cannot have human health unless Earth’s life support systems are healthy.

In May, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) published a position paper on Nursing for Planetary Health and Wellbeing. This paper was co-authored by Clinical Professor Teddie Potter, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP. In June, a Nursing for Planetary Health symposium was presented at the ICN Congress in Helsinki, Finland. The symposium represented nursing leaders from around the world, including Potter and Clinical Associate Professor Stephanie Gingerich, DNP, RN, CPN, from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.

The symposium also included a pre-recorded video by Maria Neira, MD, the World Health Organization’s Director, Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. She calls on all nurses to work to restore the health of the planet.

In response to the position paper, ICN’s Alliance of Student and Early Career Nurses wrote: 

We offer our perspective as the future of nursing — with hope, integrity and a deep sense of responsibility. We are ready to learn, lead and act — grounded in the ethics of our profession and inspired by the vision of a healthy and sustainable world. Because there is no health without a healthy planet and there is no future of health without the education of nurses who are prepared to protect it. Nurse the planet. Heal the future. (ICN, 2025b)

The School of Nursing is deeply committed to a healthy future and prepares all our students, staff, and faculty to advance planetary health in nursing education, research, advocacy/policy, and practice.

Read Nursing for Planetary Health and Wellbeing at z.umn.edu/planetaryhealthtopic