Climate change and the adverse impact on the health and well-being of women and girls from the Women's Health Expert Panel of the American Academy of Nursing.

Climate change has measurable adverse impact on the general and reproductive health of women and girls. Multinational government organizations, private foundations, and consumer groups identify anthropogenic disruptions in social and ecological environments as the primary threats to human health this century. Drought, micronutrient shortage, famine, mass migration, conflict over resources, and effects on mental health resulting from displacement and war are challenging effects to manage. The most severe effects will be felt by those with the least resources to prepare for and adapt to changes. Climate change is a phenomenon of interest to women's health professionals because women and girls are more vulnerable to the effects due to a combination of physiologic, biologic, cultural, and socioeconomic risk factors. Nurses, with our scientific foundation, human-centered approach, and position of trust in societies can be leaders in efforts at mitigation, adaptation, and building resilience in response to changes in our planetary health.

Love the Food That Loves You Back: A Planetary Health and Women's Heart Health Partnership.

Planetary health and human health are inextricably linked in a complex relationship. Gender-based health vulnerabilities fall disproportionately on women regardless of a country's economy and resources. Women and girls are often the most affected by environmental degradation in food and water systems, along with gender-specific disparities. Addressing food production and nutrition can play a key role in the nursing profession's advocacy for planetary health and heart disease prevention in addressing gender-specific disparities. This article reviews research on the intersection of planetary health, heart health, nutrition strategies, and gender-specific disparities, utilizing the planetary health perspective that views human health and the Earth's health as deeply connected. Data supports nutritional solutions including a plant-based diet to improve environmental health, increase food security and planetary health, and decrease heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Nurses play a critical role in assessing patients' food security and educating about the benefits of healthy and sustainable foods as well as how food choices can impact planetary health. Gender-sensitive research, including collection, analysis, and reporting of sex-disaggregated data, is needed to better understand the implications of planetary health threats, solutions, and policies.

Postpartum Depression Screening for Mothers of Babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent, yet underidentified, problem among mothers with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Postpartum depression can result in immediate and long-term consequences for mother and baby. Screening, followed by early intervention, is critical for improvement and resolution. The purpose of the project was to initiate early screening for PPD among a high-risk population to identify and refer for early treatment. METHODS: A screening and referral protocol was implemented using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with consults as indicated to an onsite licensed professional clinical counselor. The nurse on the care team was responsible for initiating the screening after 2 weeks postpartum and placing a mental health referral as needed. Retrospective medical record reviews were conducted to determine whether timely screening was implemented among eligible mothers, and if referrals were made for those at-risk based on EPDS score. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of women screened were at increased risk for PPD based on their EPDS score, approximately double that of the general population (12.5%). All women with a positive screen had a referral placed and were seen by the licensed professional clinical counselor within 3 days. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This project recognizes the importance of an interdisciplinary care approach and highlights the need for early identification and treatment for PPD among mothers with babies in the NICU. The project can guide future initiatives to increase the use of screening in the inpatient setting, to detect PPD during its early and more treatable stages.

Interprofessional Intervention to Support Mature Women: A Case Study.

Understanding the impact interprofessional teamwork has on patient outcomes is of great interest to health care providers, educators, and administrators. This article describes one clinical team, Women's Health Specialists, and their implementation of an interprofessional health intervention course: "Mindfulness and Well-being: The Mature Woman" (MW: MW) to support mature women's health needs in midlife (age 40-70 years) and empower patient involvement in self-care. The provider team works to understand how their interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) interventions focused on supporting midlife women are associated with improved quality and clinical outcomes. This case study describes the work of the Women's Health Specialists clinic in partnership with the National Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice to study the impact an interprofessional team has on the health needs of women in midlife. This article summarizes the project structure, processes, outputs, and outcomes. Data collection, analysis, strategy, and next steps for future midlife women's projects are also discussed.