Sustainability Analysis and Quality Improvement in Nursing and Midwifery

This course is available at no cost for registered nurses and midwives around the world.

There are limited spaces available. The course is funded and supported by the Burdett Trust as part of three new course offers for nurses and midwives. 

Who is this course for?

This course is open to all nurses and midwives with responsibility managing a team or budget.

Course outline 

Nurses and midwives play a crucial role in leading sustainable service innovation and reducing environmental impact through our daily clinical practices. The trust placed in us, as well as our unique position at the centre of healthcare systems and influencing the lives of vulnerable populations at all life stages, makes us the perfect change agents for influencing both individual behaviours and organisational policies. 
Environmental degradation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and the climate emergency present existential threats to human health. Ironically, the environmental footprint of healthcare is substantial – the sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, resource depletion, and waste production. Worldwide, healthcare is responsible for about 4.4% of net global emissions, ranking it among the most resource-intensive sectors. 

This technical course is designed specifically for nurse and midwife service leads who are interested in shaping the future of sustainable care delivery. It combines two essential tools for sustainable healthcare: sustainability in quality improvement (SusQI) and carbon footprinting. You will gain practical skills to integrate environmental and social impact into your decision-making, so that environmental and social sustainability, like cost and quality, becomes a routine consideration in your work. 

Participants will explore:

• How to identify opportunities for sustainable innovation in your own clinical area or team 

• How to apply the SusQI framework to design and lead quality improvement initiatives that are not only patient-centred and cost-effective, but also preventative, lean, low-carbon, and future-focused 

• The fundamentals of carbon footprinting in healthcare 

• Case studies and real-world examples of carbon-informed, sustainable service changes in nursing and midwifery 

The course is interactive and collaborative, with opportunities to network with fellow nurse and midwife leaders, share experiences, and explore practical solutions together. 

No prior experience in carbon footprinting or sustainability is required, though a foundation in quality improvement will be helpful. It will be an advantage to register for and read the foundation material in the Sustainable Innovation for Nurses and Midwives course, as knowledge of the basic concepts will be useful for a better understanding of SusQI and carbon footprinting. However, this course can also be successfully completed on its own. Join us to become a catalyst for change, advancing care that supports both current patients and future generations. 

I am a nurse or a midwife, why should I book this course?

This course is specifically designed to support service leads like you to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based practices and enhance your skills and knowledge. It is designed both for health and social care. 

By completing this course, you will be equipped to effectively plan, implement, and evaluate a sustainability project within your area of work. You will gain practical skills and confidence to integrate sustainable practices into your day-to-day role, contributing to improved outcomes for patients, communities, and the environment. Whether working independently or as part of a wider team, you will be supported to make meaningful, measurable changes that align with the principles of sustainable healthcare. 

By booking this course, you’ll earn valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, ensuring you meet your NMC professional development requirements while improving your expertise.  

It’s a great opportunity to expand your knowledge, stay ahead in your field, and enhance the quality of care you provide to your patients.  

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to: 

• Define a problem and set sustainability goals. 

• Study the system and assess resource use locally. 

• Apply the principles of sustainable clinical practice. 

• Measure ‘sustainable value’ using a multi-dimensional approach of environmental, social, financial and patient outcomes.

• Understand what a carbon footprint is, why it is important to measure it, and how the two main carbon footprinting methodologies differ. 

• Identify the steps in estimating a carbon footprint of a quality improvement project or clinical pathway. 

• Find and use carbon conversion factors. 

• Recognise good practice in carbon footprinting studies in healthcare. 

• Practice SusQI and carbon footprinting on a small/simple quality improvement project.

Course structure 

This course is delivered in three parts:

Part I. Self-study online 

Interactive online materials covering all course content, illustrated with case studies, presented in bite-sized modules. The course is flexible to your interests and available time; the full course contains around 8 hours of more in depth study which you can complete at your own pace and based on your own schedule and preferences. A discussion forum allows you to reflect on your learning and share thoughts and ideas with fellow learners.  

A short video on the home page outlines how to navigate the learning platform and obtain your certificate of completion. The learning materials are available to you from the point of booking and for 6 months after your workshop date.  

Part 2. Live workshop online 

The 4-hour virtual workshop consolidates your understanding of the course materials and then focuses on helping you develop ideas for a sustainability project in your setting; translating your learning into action through small group discussions with CSH experts and colleagues from around the world using a range of resources and tools made available to you. A separate certificate of completion is provided for the workshop.  

Part 3. Mentoring 

After completing the workshop you are invited to attend our online Work in Progress sessions, a friendly, informal setting in which to: 

• Reconnect with peers passionate about sustainability 

• Get ongoing support for sustainability projects from peers and CSH staff. 

The 2-hour sessions occur regularly throughout the year. You are welcome to attend as many times as you wish. Upcoming dates will be emailed to you after the workshop. You can also receive ongoing peer support by joining one of our Networks. 

How much does this course cost?

For registered nurses and midwives this course is entirely free. The course is funded and supported by the Burdett Trust.

Ready to book?

Please book your place by completing the details on the online form below.