Engaging with the sustainable development goals in healthcare settings: A qualitative study of postgraduate nursing students' experiences

BACKGROUND: A sustainable future for all is the objective of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Postgraduate nursing students may incorporate SDGs into their everyday clinical practice; however, there is a paucity of empirical evidence regarding their experiences of the implementation of the SDGs in healthcare settings. OBJECTIVE: To explore postgraduate students' experiences of engaging with the SDGs in healthcare settings. DESIGN: A descriptive, exploratory qualitative study. SETTING: Four postgraduate nursing programmes at a university in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty postgraduate nursing students, each with at least 2 years of clinical experience, were purposively sampled. METHODS: This was a qualitative study based on individual semi-structured interviews conducted between July and November 2024. Interview transcripts were analysed using six phases of reflexive thematic analysis. FINDINGS: The following three themes emerged: (1) limited awareness and comprehension of the SDGs; (2) restricted application of the SDGs in healthcare settings; and (3) willingness and suggestion to put the SDGs into practice. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a cohesive culture centred on sustainability within nursing practice is essential. The findings of this study will be beneficial for nurse educators to enhance the planning and redesign of educational programmes aimed at fostering sustainable healthcare by integrating strategies for implementing the SDGs across diverse healthcare settings.