The role of nurses in One Health: A public health nursing perspective

Abstract

One Health, defined as a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach that links human, animal, and environmental health, has gained momentum as the world faces converging crises, including zoonotic pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change. While medicine and veterinary science have spearheaded its implementation, the nursing profession, particularly public health nursing, remains underrepresented despite its natural alignment with One Health principles. This perspective highlights the essential role of nurses in advancing One Health, emphasizing how their holistic philosophy, preventive focus, and community presence uniquely position them to operationalize this framework. Nurses contribute to One Health through surveillance and early detection, outbreak response, health education, antimicrobial stewardship, climate adaptation, and interprofessional collaboration. They act as trusted community liaisons, bridging scientific knowledge with culturally grounded practices and advocating for equity-driven policies. Yet barriers, including limited awareness, professional silos, workforce shortages, and a lack of formal representation, restrict their full participation. Addressing these requires integrating One Health into nursing education, ensuring nursing representation in governance structures, resourcing nurses for expanded roles, and investing in nursing-led research. Nurses are indispensable to translating One Health from principle to practice. By empowering nurses through education, policy, and research, health systems can enhance resilience and equity in addressing global health challenges. Integrating nursing into One Health is not only a matter of professional recognition but also a pragmatic strategy for building healthier communities, more sustainable environments, and stronger health systems worldwide.