Future Nurses as Stewards of Health and Environment: Awareness and Actions Toward Plastic Pollution Prevention and Environmental Sustainability

Introduction: Human exposure to plastics through air, water, and soil causes a variety of significant and complex health hazards. The aim of the present study was to explore the level of awareness regarding plastic pollution and the level of engagement in actions towards plastic pollution prevention and environmental sustainability promotion among nursing students. Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted at two selected health sciences universities in India. Convenience sampling was used to enrol 511 undergraduate nursing students. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding awareness of plastic pollution, its impact on human health and the environment, sustainable alternatives to plastics, levels of engagement in preventing plastic pollution and promoting environmental sustainability, and opinions towards strategies for mitigating plastic pollution. Results: The ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 28 years, with a mean age of 21 ± 2.22 years. While 41.5% of the participants had adequate awareness of plastic pollution, only 14.1% demonstrated adequate levels of engagement in plastic pollution prevention and actions promoting environmental sustainability. A positive correlation was found between awareness of plastic pollution and engagement in plastic pollution prevention and environmental sustainability promotion (r = 0.19, p < 0.001). Discussion: A substantial discrepancy exists between nursing students' awareness of plastic pollution and their actual engagement in pro-environmental behaviours. Additionally, the results indicate that enhancing awareness can lead to improved pro-environmental behaviors, underscoring the importance of preparing future nurses adequately as agents and advocates for environmental health and sustainability. Conclusion: This study highlights the need to integrate environmental sustainability education into nursing curricula to bridge the gap between awareness and action.