CASE STUDIES

For this Toolkit, AHNE team members interviewed a number of the nurses who have successfully launched sustainability initiatives in their clinical-setting. These nurse-led case studies spotlight innovative sustainability efforts happening across the country—from hospital waste reduction to climate advocacy and community engagement. Each story highlights how nurses are driving environmental change in healthcare and beyond. We concluded each interview by asking these nurses – “What advice would you give to a nurse that is interested in pursuing a similar initiative/action/project?” They offered inspiration and practical ideas for others ready to take action. Click on each image to read the full report!

Learn how Dr. Tara Marko is advancing nursing research at the intersection of climate change and maternal-child health. From groundbreaking wildfire smoke studies to sustainability leadership in academia and practice, her story highlights the growing role of nurses in shaping a healthier, more resilient future.

A nurse-led team in Stanford’s Pediatric ICU took on the challenge of reducing massive medical waste—22,000 pounds and $8 million worth annually—from bedside supply carts. What started as a small grassroots effort grew into a hospital-wide collaboration, shifting culture, cutting costs, and sending critical supplies to communities in need. See how this team turned sustainability into everyday practice.

What started with two nurses and an unused storage room has grown into a hospital-wide donation and landfill diversion program. At ChristianaCare, Deanna Benner and Ashley Oncay have redirected over $1 million worth of medical surplus to global health efforts, local nursing programs, and circular economy partners—proving nurses can lead powerful, system-changing sustainability initiatives from the ground up.

In Arizona, nurse leader Pat VanMaanen is turning up the heat on climate action—literally. Through advocacy, education, and coalition-building, she’s leading statewide efforts to protect communities from extreme heat and environmental harm. From hospital sustainability committees to state task forces, discover how nurses are shaping climate resilience where it’s needed most.

When pediatric nurse Charlotte Wallace challenged her hospital’s environmental impact, she sparked a movement. From creating Maryland’s first LEED-certified acute care building to slashing medical waste incineration, her leadership transformed policy, practice, and culture. See how one nurse’s vision reshaped an entire health system—and laid the groundwork for nurse-led climate action nationwide.

By spotting waste in everyday practice, nurse Ann Mead sparked a hospital-wide shift in how supplies are used, stocked, and valued. Her unit’s 72% drop in basin use and $18K in savings prove that practical, frontline insights can lead to powerful change. See how one nurse turned small wins into a scalable model for hospital sustainability.

At Miriam Hospital and across Rhode Island, nurse Stephanie Santos is proving that small actions can lead to big change. From reducing hospital waste to organizing river cleanups and championing recycling policy, she blends clinical care with community advocacy. Discover how her nurse-led efforts are creating a more sustainable, engaged, and healthier environment—one micro action at a time.

When Jo Bjorgaard, DNP, RN, noticed her health system had no way to track greenhouse gas emissions, she didn’t wait for someone else to act—she built the system herself. What started as a solo effort grew into a cross-disciplinary movement that cut emissions by 21% in just one year. Learn how Jo combined clinical insight, Lean Six Sigma strategy, and stakeholder savvy to embed sustainability into hospital operations—and how nurses everywhere can follow her lead.

At Providence St. Patrick Hospital, Sarah E. Johnson led an ambitious effort to make environmental stewardship part of the fabric of nursing practice. By embedding sustainability into orientations, leadership development, and clinical advancement, she helped shift the culture—boosting awareness, cutting carbon emissions, and earning national recognition. Learn how one nurse turned climate action into a system-wide movement for healthier people and a healthier planet.

Inspired to share your own story?
We’d love to hear how you’re advancing sustainability in your practice or community. If you have a case study, project, or experience to share, reach out to us—we’re always looking to spotlight nurse-led climate action.