Roles of Nurse Practitioners: Health Consequences of Climate Change in Vulnerable Older Adults

Nurse practitioners (NPs) have key roles in addressing health consequences of climate change across the lifespan for patients, families, communities, and populations. The role of the NP in the health and well-being of vulnerable populations is critical in understanding the deleterious consequences of climate change. Older adults are considered a vulnerable population for health challenges in our climate-changing world. The link between climate and health via a systems approach includes engaging in health assessment, physical examination, differential diagnoses, and plans for interventions. Social determinants of health, community health, and population health are discussed, with recommendations for the roles of NPs.