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Victoria nurses lead greener approach to kidney care at Royal Jubilee

During Nursing Week, registered nurse Gertie Michaelis-Martin is being recognized for leading the 'Going Green in the RJH Hemodialysis Unit' initiative, which reduces the environmental impact of kidney care at the Victoria hospital.
Following a 2024 environmental health conference in Nanaimo, Michaelis-Martin launched the project; the RJH Renal Unit relies on heavy resources, including five million litres of water annually for hemodialysis procedures.
Adopting reusable gowns in 2024 dropped usage from over 30,000 disposable gowns annually to just 800, while customized supply assembly reduced unused medical items marked for disposal by 30 per cent since January.
Since September 2025, staff have diverted nearly 350 kilograms of unused heparin to incineration, reducing groundwater contamination risks; Puru Shah, a member of Island Health's Innovation team, called the work "deeply embedded in day-to-day nursing practice."
Dr. Caroline Stigant, a nephrologist with Island Health, praised the initiative's leader for bringing purpose to sustainability work, while Michaelis-Martin stated, "Once you see things through a green lens, there's no turning back.

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Victoria nurses lead greener approach to kidney care at Royal Jubilee - Grand Forks Gazette

A nurse-led initiative at Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) is helping make kidney care more environmentally sustainable by reducing waste, improving recycling and changing medication disposal practices. The Going Green in the RJH Hemodialysis Unit initiative, led by registered nurse Gertie Michaelis-Martin, is being recognized during Nursing Week for its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of kidney care at the Victoria hospital. Michaelis-Ma…

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