Environmental Exposure Risk Education to Enhance Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Screening for Nurse Practitioners

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Summer 7-29-2026

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 36 million adults in the United States, with nearly 90% of individuals unaware of their diagnosis until advanced stages. While diabetes and hypertension remain the primary causes, increasing evidence highlights environmental exposures as significant and underrecognized contributors to CKD onset and progression. Exposures such as heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), air and water pollution, microplastics, and heat exposure have been linked to impaired renal function. Despite this growing body of evidence, environmental health content remains limited in nursing education, resulting in gaps in environmental health literacy (EHL) among nurse practitioners (NPs) and nurses.

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to enhance EHL among NPs and nurses by implementing an educational intervention focused on environmental determinants of CKD. Guided by Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory and the EHL framework, the project aimed to educate NPs and nurses in identifying environmental risk factors and integrating prevention strategies into clinical practice in the setting of CKD. The intervention consisted of a virtual educational webinar delivered in partnership with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), targeting NPs and nurses across diverse practice settings.

A post-intervention evaluation was conducted using the System Usability Scale (SUS) to assess the perceived usability and applicability of the educational content in clinical practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean scores and variability, to evaluate participant responses. The project emphasized practical application, including environmental exposure screening, patient education, and documentation strategies to support early identification and prevention of CKD.

This project addressed a critical gap in nursing education by equipping NPs and nurses with the knowledge and tools necessary to recognize and mitigate environmental health risks specific to CKD. Enhancing EHL has the potential to improve early detection, support preventive care, and reduce the burden of CKD, particularly in high-risk and underserved populations. The findings support the integration of environmental health into nursing education and clinical practice, contributing to improved population health outcomes and advancing climate-resilient healthcare.

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