Exploring Nursing Students’ Metaphorical Perceptions and Cognitive Structures Related to the Global Climate Crisis's Impact on Nursing

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the metaphorical perceptions and cognitive structures of Turkish nursing students related to the impact of the global climate crisis on their profession. Methods: Researchers adopted a qualitative approach centered on metaphor analysis and involved 40 Turkish nursing students enrolled in programs in Türkiye during October 2023. Using metaphor analysis and techniques involving writing and drawing, the study uncovered how these students perceive and cognitively structure the influence of the global climate crisis on their nursing careers. The interview form featured the metaphor expression “The reflection of the global climate crisis on nursing is like … because …,” while the drawing component prompted students to determine their perspectives on the climate crisis's impact on nursing through concept drawings. The research adhered to the COREQ checklist. Results: The study revealed that nursing students generated 22 metaphors each through written and drawing techniques. Written metaphors were grouped into five categories: psychosocial challenges faced by nurses, patient populations, diseases and coping, burdens on the health system, and the growing importance of various fields within nursing. Drawing technique metaphors were grouped into four categories: nurses and the difficulties they face, the impact of the global climate crisis on the world, the impact of the global climate crisis on the healthcare sector, and the roles and responsibilities of nurses. Conclusions: While nursing students expressed diverse opinions, their concerns about the reflection of the global climate crisis on nursing yielded similar emotional responses. Metaphors are mostly focused on psychosocial challenges faced by nurses, the patient population, diseases, and coping mechanisms. The findings underscored nursing students’ concerns about the global climate crisis's impact on both their profession and the broader community. © 2024 The Author(s). Public Health Nursing published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.