Climate change is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, and Intensive Care Units (ICU’s) are large consumers of energy and waste. ICUs rely heavily on single-use devices and patients require large amounts of drugs and supplies for their treatment. The sustainability Initiative for this capstone project is to lower the environmental impact of ICU admissions while maintaining high standards of quality care. One of the key initiatives for this project will be advocating and integrating sustainable practices into routine daily care for critically ill patients.

The anticipated outcomes of this project will be to work with the multidisciplinary team in the Brightshores ICU to create a Green Team task force. The taskforce is expected to meet on a regular basis to identify key domains and to determine actions for implementation. The task force will identify key deliverables including reviewing current literature, creating a sustainability survey, providing education and facilitating waste and turnover audits. Through these activities it is anticipated that there will be a reduction in waste and a decrease in the carbon footprint of the ICU by creating a culture of sustainability.

Students working on the Sustainability Initiative will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills that will be transferable to their future career in healthcare. It is anticipated that the student will take a co-chair position on the task force with the multidisciplinary team. This will give students the opportunity to develop leadership and collaboration skills. This project will also develop problem solving and project management skills by identifying key deliverables and creating and executing a workplan. Students will be able to conduct audits for waste and turnover which will provide a measurable impact of the project. It is also anticipated that the task force will create educational materials for staff that will require change management skills. This project will be a hybrid model; remote and on-site.

Participants will be given access to Canva, Venngage and Microsoft Suites for creating infographics and/or educational material. Students will be able to navigate Cerner eMAR if required for data collection. The Brightshores online library will be available for literature review and research requirements. 

Weekly meetings will occur with a Brightshores mentor from the IPAC program. There will be regularly scheduled meetings on site with the Green Team task force. The procurement team will be available as needed to support any projects. Students can also refer to the Critical Care Nurses Association of Canada for additional guidelines.