Findings from this study suggest further education, practice, and research directions.

No abstract

Hospice home care and home health nurses are essential providers in efforts to improve the care and quality of life with families who have someone living with advanced or life-limiting conditions. Because these nursing professionals are part of end-of-life care, their duties include education about and disposal of unused medications. But drug disposal has broader implications, especially for the environment, aquatic life, and ultimately for human health. The purpose of this article is to (a) introduce the topic of drug disposal within an environmental and health context, (b) identify current recommendations for drug disposal, and (c) provide suggestions for hospice home care and home health care nurses for safer drug disposal.

In 2004, environmental health issues continue to dominate the policy agenda. Nurses, the first or only point of contact for many patients in underserved communities, are well positioned to advocate for a healthier environment. The development of excellent databases for nurses to learn about environmental health issues and develop competencies provides an opportunity for those wishing to be change agents. Nevertheless, a gap exists for nurses wishing to learn about environmental health nursing advocacy. A program, The Nurse and the Environment: Tools for Action (NETFA), was initiated in 2003 and includes information about the nurse’s advocacy role in environmental health as well as case studies about successful environmental health advocacy campaigns specific to Michigan to promote increased awareness of nurses’ need to develop a strong advocacy role. Such a role should include knowledge of policy and political practices and strategies for influencing current environmental health policy and practices.