Promoting Sustainable Development in Pediatric Units: Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions in Mitigating Environmental Risks and Enhancing Clinical Outcomes

Background: Sustainable development in healthcare aims to minimize environmental hazards while maximizing patient safety. Pediatric nurses play a pivotal role in implementing eco-friendly and safe clinical practices that directly influence child health recovery and resource sustainability. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing interventions in mitigating environmental risks and enhancing clinical outcomes for children in Pediatric Units. Subjects and Method: A quasi-experimental research design (pre-and-post test) was utilized. Study Setting: The study was conducted in pediatric departments at Suez Canal University Hospital, Egypt. Study Sample: A convenient sample, including 50 pediatric nurses and 100 hospitalized children. Tools: Data were collected using: 1: A Structured Interview Sheet for Demographic data of the studied nurses and clinical profile sheet for children, 2: An Environmental Risk Assessment Questionnaire for nurses, 3: An Observational Checklist for nursing sustainable practices, 4: A Clinical Outcomes Sheet for children (measuring Infection Rates, Length of Stay, and Recovery Progress). Results: Post-intervention findings showed a statistically significant improvement in nurses' knowledge and practice scores regarding environmental sustainability (p < 0.001). Consequently, the clinical outcomes of the 100 children showed a significant reduction in Hospital-Acquired Infection (HAI) rates and a decrease in the average Length of Hospital Stay compared to the pre-intervention baseline data. Conclusion: The study concludes that nursing sustainable interventions are highly effective in reducing environmental risks and significantly improving the clinical prognosis of hospitalized children. Integrating sustainability protocols into the pediatric nursing workflow is highly recommended.