Sustainability focus for fourth year student

25 Nov 2024

Solution-focused Elevator Pitches

The nursing and midwifery students undertaking the elective module NU4115 (Healthcare and the UN Sustainable Development Goals) did a superb job by each delivering their “elevator pitch” on solutions to a range of challenges to making healthcare more sustainable. The students presented in one of five groups, namely:

• Waste management in clinical settings
• Aprons and Gloves: usage and overuse
• Food Waste in hospitals
• Energy and Water usage in healthcare
• Single Use plastics in healthcare

All members of the college and clinical colleagues were welcome to attend this drop-in opportunity to hear students give their ‘elevator pitch’ and to see their superb displays with fascinating and innovative props! The students were assessed by Dr Angela Flynn and by Clare Crowley from the CSSRC.

Students undertaking the module have been focusing on approaching the climate crisis through the lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The module, coordinated by Dr Angela Flynn, examines the UNSDGs as a globally accepted strategic framework, language, philosophy and plan of action to address the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development. They have also worked on relating sustainability to healthcare and understanding the impact of climate change on health. Students have been guided towards seeing the climate crisis as a health crisis, and relating sustainability to healthcare practices. Student who are soon to go out on their internship have been encouraged to consider themselves as climate champions who will be articulate and informed about climate-smart healthcare.

Thanks to all the colleagues in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, our partner hospitals, and the HSE sustainability office who attended to hear the students’ pitches.

Well done to all the students who excelled at this innovative mode of assessment.

For more on this story contact:

Dr Angela Flynn