Ms Jennie Aronsson
Profiles

Ms Jennie Aronsson

Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)

School of Nursing and Midwifery (Faculty of Health)

Biography

Biography

As a lecturer in Adult Health, my role entails teaching on public health and research modules as well as engaging in research to foster a rich learning environment where teaching is underpinned by evidence.

Qualifications

BSc Nursing

BSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing

PgDip Contemporary Healthcare (Education) 

My nursing experience derives from practising in three different countries: Sweden, Canada and the UK. Initially my main area of interest was female healthcare; I have worked in two different gynaecology wards, one female health clinic and at a Labour and Delivery unit as an obstetric nurse. Upon arrival in the UK I completed a BSc in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing, which led to a post within the school nursing service. From there I branched out to work within sexual health, based at the Chlamydia Screening Office.

I am currently undertaking doctorate research on the awareness of, attitudes towards and action for sustainability and planetary health from the perspective of nursing students and educators. This builds on the legacy from the NurSus project: nursus.eu/

Professional membership

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Royal College of Nursing

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

Public Health/ Health Inequalities

Evidence-Informed Decision-Making/ Research

Sustainability Education/ Nature-based Health Promotion

Staff serving as external examiners

External Examiner at Manchester Metropolitan University on the BSc (Hons) & PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing –
School Nursing programme and CPD Nursing Modular Studies

Research

Research

Research interests

Recent years have seen a surge in action to combat climate change globally, nationally and locally. The UK parliament became the first in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2019, the NHS recently launched its ‘For a greener NHS’ campaign and the strategy for the University of Plymouth (Our strategy 2030) embeds sustainability as a core principle. Within the School of Nursing and Midwifery, ample work has been done to embed sustainability in nursing education through the NurSus project (nursus.eu). There is a need to ensure that this is maintained within the nursing curriculum, and to expand on our understanding of the relevance of sustainability in nursing. The aim for my PhD study is to explore the awareness of and attitudes towards sustainability and climate change from the perspective of student nurses and nurse educators.

My PhD study builds on previous research within the area of sustainability and climate change in nursing education. I have also conducted research on the link between learning outside in natural environment and health/wellbeing outcomes in school-aged children. 

 



 

Grants & contracts

SNAM Alumni Clinical Research Grant with matched funding by Plymouth Green Infrastructure Team/Stepping Stones to Nature, Plymouth City Council (2013 – 2014) to explore the physical health benefits derived from outdoor learning in natural environments (LINE) for school-age children

Good from Woods (Silvanus Trust and Plymouth University (Outdoor and Experiential Learning Network, Faculty of Education),2014) funded action research project exploring the well-being outcomes of outdoor learning in natural environments (LINE) in a local primary school

Institute of Health Community Pump Priming (2015) funding for Mapping and measuring health outcomes in Learning in the Natural Environment project 

Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Aronsson J, Nichols A, Warwick P & Elf M (2023) 'Nursing students' and educators' perspectives on sustainability and climate change: An integrative review' Journal of Advanced Nursing , DOI Open access
Nichols A, Howes S, Thompson A, Byrt L, Cottell S, Rees F & Aronsson J (2022) 'Embedding sustainability into nursing and midwifery education' Nursing Times 118, (8) 1-4 Publisher Site Open access
Aronsson J, Anåker A, Elf M & Richardson J (2022) 'Sustainability in clinical practice: a cross-national comparative study of nursing students' Journal of Nursing Education 61, (7) 390-393 , DOI Open access
Aronsson J, Nichols A, Warwick P & Elf M (2021) 'Awareness and attitudes towards sustainability and climate change amongst students and educators in nursing: A systematic integrative review protocol' Nursing Open , DOI Open access
Álvarez-Nieto C, Richardson J, Navarro-Perán MÁ, Tutticci N, Huss N, Elf M, Anåker A, Aronsson J, Baid H & López-Medina IM (2021) 'Nursing students' attitudes towards climate change and sustainability: A cross-sectional multisite study' Nurse Education Today 108, , DOI Open access
Richardson J, Aronsson J, Clarke D & Grose J (2021) 'The Greta Thunberg effect: student nurses’ attitudes to the climate crisis' Nursing Times 117, (5) 44-47 Publisher Site Open access
Aronsson J, Clarke D, Grose J & Richardson J (2020) 'Student nurses exposed to sustainability education can challenge practice: A cohort study' Nursing & Health Sciences , DOI Open access
Jones R, Young K, Munro J, Miller H, Brelsford S, Aronsson J, Goodman B & Peters J (2017) 'Including the online feedback site, patient opinion, in the nursing curriculum: exploratory study' Nurse Education Today , DOI Open access
Aronsson J (2016) 'Transformative sustainability learning within the undergraduate nursing curriculum' Community Pract 89, (1) 20-21 Author Site
Aronsson J, Waite S & Clark MT (2015) 'Measuring the impact of outdoor learning on the physical activity of school age children: The use of accelerometry' Education and Health 33, (3) 57-62
Aronsson J (2013) 'How can SCPHN school nurses contribute to the sustainability agenda?' Community Pract 86, (7) 38-40 Author Site
Chapters
Waite S & Aronsson J (2022) 'Some Impacts on Health and Wellbeing from School-Based Outdoor Learning' in Jucker R; von Au J High-Quality Outdoor Learning Evidence-based Education Outside the Classroom for Children, Teachers and Society Switzerland Springer 171-190 , DOI
O’Brien L, Ambrose-Oji B, Waite S, Aronsson J & Clark M (2016) 'Learning on the move: Green exercise for children and young people' Green Exercise: Linking Nature, Health and Well-being 53-68 , DOI
Conference Papers

Aronsson, J. (2022)  'Nursing students' responses to unsustainable clinical practice: a cohort study', International Nurse Education Conference 2022. From education to impact: Transforming nursing and midwifery education, Sitges, Barcelona, Spain. 

Howes, S. and Aronsson, J. (2021) 'A sea change: partnering with students for sustainable innovation in healthcare', Sustainable Earth 2021, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. 

Richardson, J. and Aronsson. J. (2019) 'Can sustainability sessions in undergraduate nurse education influence practice?', Sustainability and Health: Small Steps, Big Changes, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK.  

Sharman, J. and Aronsson, J. (2018) Poster: ‘Accessing Urban Greenspaces for Health and Wellbeing’, Celebrating and Developing Community Engagement, Devonport Guildhall, Plymouth, UK.

Waite, S. and Aronsson, J. (2015) ‘Natural Connections – Towards Naturally Healthy Schools for Children’European Conference on Educational Research (ECER). Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary.

Aronsson, J. and Wright, N. (2015) ‘Woodland Health for Youth’,Walking the Talk conference, Plymouth University, Plymouth , UK.

Sharman, J. and Aronsson, J. (2014) ‘Stepping Stones to Nature’, HealthyPlaces Matter - Peninsula Public Health Network 8th Annual Conference,Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh, UK

Tighe, M., Waite, S. and Aronsson, J. (2013) ‘Health by stealth:Improving Child Health through Outdoor Learning’, Growing Plymouth’sHealth and Wealth through the Natural Environment, Hamoaze House, Plymouth,UK

Reports

Aronsson, J., Tighe Clark, M. and Waite, S. (2014) Woodland Health for Youth (WHY): an evaluation of physical health benefits derived from outdoor learning in natural environments (LINE) for school-age children. Available at: http://www.lotc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Woodland-Health-for-Youth-WHY-project-report.pdf

Aronsson, J. and Wright, N. (2014) A qualitative study of the physical health benefits and well-being outcomes associated with outdoor learning in natural environments (LINE) for year 2 school children. Available at: http://www.goodfromwoods.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/MayflowersummaryFINAL-no-pics.pdf

Presentations and posters
Aronsson J, Clarke D, Grose J & Richardson J Aronsson J, Clarke D, Grose J & Richardson J 'Nursing students' responses to unsustainable clinical practice: A cohort study' , DOI
Personal

Personal

Reports & invited lectures

Guest lecturing at the BSc Nursing programme at Dalarna University, Sweden: I hold a lecture called 'Nature-based health promotion to address public health issues faced by children and young people' biannually, as part of the module 'Humanity and Health in a Societal Perspective (GVÅ2AP)'. Additionally, together with colleagues in Sweden and Somaliland, I organise and deliver a Twinning session where students from University of Plymouth, UK, Dalarna University, Sweden and University of Hargeisa, Somaliland meet to share knowledge and understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and National Public Health priorities. 

Presentation at Sustainability seminar, Research Research Collegium for the Advancement of Sustainability (RECAST),  Dalarna University, Sweden: joint presentation on 'Sustainability Education and Research at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Plymouth, England, and the Collaboration with Dalarna University'. This was delivered at a full-day seminar on Sustainability on June 2, 2022 at Dalarna Science Park in Borlänge.

Presentation for the Nursing and Community Health department at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK: joint presentation on 'Embedding sustainability in education'. This was presented to students and Scottish colleagues at a webinar on 'Sustainability –why it matters in Nursing' on April 20, 2022. 

Other academic activities

Together with colleagues, I lead the Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing Interest Group SHWIG (https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/shwig), winner of the Vice-Chancellor's award for Sustainability at the University of Plymouth 2022:

Category: Sustainability

Winner - The Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing Interest Group

Jennie Aronsson, Dr Andy Nichols, Sarah Howes

Faculty of Health

The Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing Interest Group fly the sustainability flag to meet the University’s core ambitions. They are instrumental in driving academic, student and grassroots activities locally, nationally and internationally to create, develop and meet broad sustainability goals. These include wellbeing, education, research and solutions. Sustainability education for over 1000 students last year has contributed to adoption of sustainable change. They work collaboratively, welcoming all, sharing and motivating through fostering research, supporting each other and celebrating successes.