Intensive and Critical Care Nursing Mapping the discourse of environmental sustainability in intensive care nursing: a lexicometric exploration of professional meaning-making

This research utilizes lexicometric mapping to examine how intensive care nurses conceptualize and communicate the idea of environmental sustainability within their high-stakes work environment. By analyzing interviews through specialized software, the study identifies a multidimensional professional discourse where ecological concerns intersect with daily bedside care, ethical duties, and systemic obstacles. The findings reveal that while nurses view environmental stewardship as a collaborative responsibility, their ability to act is often dictated by organizational structures and material constraints like waste management. Ultimately, this exploration serves to bridge the gap between abstract green goals and the practical realities of critical care, providing a framework for future educational and systemic reforms.