Sure, it’s easy to think of healthcare and sustainability as two totally separate worlds. And if you want to have a great career in the green industry, then you won’t be able to be involved in healthcare. Again, makes total sense here as one is patient care, hospitals, clinics, emergencies, appointments, and all the very human stuff that comes with helping people. The other is recycling, cleaner systems, lower waste, better transport, less energy use, and trying not to make the planet suffer more than it already has. But believe it or not, here, there can actually be some overlap.
But no, really, think about it, because healthcare uses a ton of supplies, hospitals need huge amounts of energy, plus, medical transport has fuel and logistics attached to it. There are plenty of other examples here, but there is a lot of overlap. But no, really, think about it, because healthcare uses a ton of supplies, hospitals need huge amounts of energy, plus, medical transport has fuel and logistics attached to it. There are plenty of other examples here, but there is a lot of overlap.
So, if you’re absolutely dead set on a healthcare career where you can make greener choices, where can you start?
EMTs See the System Up Close
An EMT role can be a really interesting starting point because it puts someone right in the middle of real patient care. But really, they’re handling not just the emergency response, but the patient transport, communication with the hospitals, routes, supplies; there’s just a lot of moving bits here.
If you’re interested in becoming one, you can look into Royal Ambulance since they’re a great step into getting into the field (and you get the training you need, and it’s affordable). But how can an EMT impact the environment, though? Well, more EMTs are advocating for less medical waste, more are advocating for greener transportation (electric vehicles), and these changes are happening (and more hospitals are focusing on where to make greener choices, too, which helps a lot.
Nurses are Constantly Pushing for Better Everyday Choices
All types of nurses in all types of settings, too, be it clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, you get the idea. But as you know already, nurses are everywhere in healthcare, which means they notice everything. They see that the supplies that get wasted, the products that get opened and tossed. The routines could be cleaner, safer, or more efficient.
They know and see it. Honestly, it’s harder to advocate and be listened to when you’re starting out or in a lower position, but once you work your way up (which is fortunately going to take some time), you’ll be able to be heard and listened to on what sustainable choices can be made. But even asking better questions about waste, reusable options, patient education, and supply use can help shift the culture in a clinic or hospital.
Healthcare Operations Change the Way Facilities Run
So just above, it was mentioned how it can take a long time to hear if you’re a nurse who wants to make some eco-friendly changes, and to a degree here, that’s unfortunately true. But if you’re right in the operations, you have a lot more control. Some people are better suited to operations, administration, logistics, purchasing, or facilities management, and honestly, those roles can have a huge sustainability impact.
This is where a lot of the changes to becoming more green happen, like upgrading systems, improving transport routes, and things like that.
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