How Climate Change Affects Nursing with Raluca Radu
Today’s guest is Raluca Radu. Raluca reached out after having met one of our former guests, Joanne Petersen, at the CNA conference. Raluca is currently pursuing a Masters of Nursing at the University of British Columbia. She has worked as an acute care nurse, a travel nurse, an occupational health and safety nurse, and as a clinical resource nurse at Vancouver General Hospital. She is the current president of the Graduate Student Nurses at the UVC, and she is completing her Masters with a focus on bringing climate change into nursing.
Episode Highlights
We start by discussing the eye-opening experience of private surgical care and the competing benefits and challenges of private care. We go on to discuss:
- The decision to leap into a Masters degree early in her career
- Why she shifted her focus to climate change and nursing
- Environmental factors that will increase health risks
- What to do when you’re facing challenges in nursing
- Recharging after burnout
- Horizontal violence and bullying in the sector
- Simple ways to get involved in policy change
Key Points
1. Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism. It will make you a stronger leader.
2. Step outside of your comfort zone. If you don’t, you may not be invited to the table.
3. Speak up. Volunteer. Challenge opinions.
Mentioned in this Episode
Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment
Planetary Health Alliance
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment – download their Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals
Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research
Comax Valley Nurses for Health and the Environment
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Raluca on Twitter
