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Ubuntu philosophy as a transformative pedagogical approach for advancing planetary health in nursing education in the Anthropocene era

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • Nursing education has traditionally overlooked the interconnectedness of human and planetary health. • This paper advocates for ubuntu as a transformative pedagogy to advance planetary health in nursing education. • Ubuntu principles can guide nursing practice toward climate action, equity, and sustainability. The health of our planet is inseparable from human well-being, and the escalating effects of climate change call for a fundamental shift in nursing education. Traditional Western frameworks often prioritize individual health outcomes, overlooking the vital interconnectedness between human and planetary health. This article, guided by McCullough and colleagues’ framework, advocates for Ubuntu, an African philosophy rooted in communal well-being and ecological stewardship. as a transformative pedagogical approach to advancing planetary health, climate sustainability, and social justice in nursing education within the Anthropocene era. Drawing on supportive theoretical frameworks and six purposively selected studies focused on Ubuntu, climate change, the Anthropocene, planetary health, social justice, and pedagogy, this argumentative literature study argues that Ubuntu as a pedagogy provides a humanistic, ecologically conscious model that prepares nursing students to advocate for both social and environmental justice. By integrating Ubuntu's principles, nursing education can cultivate practitioners who are not only skilled clinicians but also compassionate advocates for climate action and equity, fostering a healthcare system that prioritizes resilience and sustainability amid global environmental challenges.
DOI: 10.1016/j.teln.2025.01.011
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,700
OpenAlex ID: W4407188890
FWCI: 68.05
Cites: 56
Cited by: 21
Related to: 10