Nurses play an important role caring for all individuals within our communities. The community often underrecognises nurses' roles in advocacy, health promotion, illness prevention, and education. Empowering Nurses to implement the 5 R’s for sustainability within their everyday practices could demonstrate to individuals of the community the health benefits of lessening our environmental impact.

As an admired and respected profession, nursing has the advantage of connection with the general population by serving as role models. Role modelling sets a behavioural standard, and through social learning theory, nurses' courageous actions in implementing the 5 R’s of sustainability can play a vital role in demonstrating health benefits. The 5 R’s include Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. Utilising these environmentally conscious practices has been shown to have many health benefits. Such as the simple example of not utilising plastic water bottles; can reduce the intake of microplastics and hormone disruption. These practice changes provide advocacy, health promotion, prevention of illness and education when a conscious effort is used with implementation. It is important to recognise we are all human; we will make mistakes when attempting to make changes to our practices. Showing compassion for ourselves and others is vital throughout this transition period.

In conclusion, the nursing profession holds a unique position of influence and respect, making nurses powerful role models. By embodying the 5 R’s of sustainability, nurses can demonstrate the significant health benefits of environmentally conscious practices. As we strive to adopt these practices, it is crucial to remember our humanity and the inevitability of mistakes. Showing compassion for ourselves and others during this transition is essential for fostering supportive and effective change. Let's take the lead in promoting sustainability by incorporating the 5 R’s into our daily practices and encouraging our colleagues and communities to join us!