Preparing and utilising the primary care nursing workforce for extreme weather events: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Climate change is a major health emergency, and preventing and managing climate-related health emergencies requires a healthcare workforce prepared to meet extreme challenges. Primary care nurses are central to managing both routine and emergent needs during climate-related disruptions. Lessons from their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic – in which they demonstrated adaptability, expertise, innovation and a commitment to continuity of patient care, despite facing significant challenges – can offer critical insights into preparing this workforce for the escalating health crisis of climate change. This preparation demands system-wide emergency preparedness, rapid adaptation and workforce flexibility. This article explores the experiences of primary care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and applies these insights to strategies for building a climate-responsive, resilient nursing workforce capable of delivering equitable care during future health crises such as extreme weather events.