Document Type : Systematic Review and Meta Analysis
Authors
1
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
2
Student Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
3
1. Student Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran 2.Instructor, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
10.22087/ijac.2026.601407.1124
Abstract
Nurses' environmentally sustainable practices may be influenced by organizational and managerial factors; however, evidence regarding associated factors and interventions remains fragmented. This systematic review aimed to identify organizational and managerial factors associated with nurses' environmentally sustainable practices and examine interventions implemented to promote these practices. PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and SID were searched for studies published from January 2015 to June 30, 2026. Observational studies examined associations between organizational or managerial factors and behavioral or practice-based environmental outcomes among nurses. Intervention studies evaluated organizational or managerial interventions targeting such outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using appropriate JBI tools. Due to heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Fifteen independent studies, including 9 observational and 6 intervention studies, were included. Observational studies examined sustainability-supportive leadership, organizational and team green climate, ethical climate, organizational culture, and conditions supporting green behaviors. Six intervention studies evaluated educational programs related to green management, green behavior, green transformational leadership, or interactive web-based education; all reported increases in sustainability-related behavior or performance. However, five lacked an independent control group, and only one was a randomized controlled trial. These findings suggest that nurses’ green behavior should not be viewed solely as an individual attribute; organizational conditions, leadership, work climate, and practical support should also be considered when designing sustainability initiatives in nursing. In practice, these findings can help nurse managers design workplace strategies that combine staff education with supportive leadership, team-level green norms, and access to the resources needed to implement sustainable practices.
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