Authors

  1. Kelly, Debra E. DNP, RN

Article Content

In response to concerns of inequities in nursing education, concepts of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) were integrated into the curriculum of an accelerated bachelor's degree in nursing program. Faculty in a first semester theory class integrated JEDI, health disparities, and climate change into the course. The concepts of intersectionality between climate change and health and health disparities were examined in class assignments. This first semester class offered weekly JEDI-related readings and modules that included health disparities, climate change and health, and critical race theory. The weekly modules included taped lectures and readings. After the 3 modules, the students discussed the effects of climate change on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and the health consequences. Each student group submitted a video of their discussion. The discussions were rich, and the students provided many examples of the connection between climate change and health disparities. Students expressed that the content introduced them to the nurse's role in decreasing health inequities for patients and mitigating climate change through education and advocacy. The introduction of JEDI concepts and climate change into this first semester course set the stage for the following semester's content, enabling the nursing program to incorporate these concepts throughout the entire program.