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Framework & Related Literature Review

Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety in Nursing Education: A Framework for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nursing (in .pdf)

Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nursing Education: An Integrated Review of the Literature (in .pdf)

 

 

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Cultural Competence & Cultural Safety in Nursing Education Introduction

The overarching goal for this initiative is to improve the health delivery and outcomes for First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples. As such, a related goal is the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal student nurses to Canadian Schools of Nursing as well as to support the retention of First Nation, Métis and Inuit nurses and other health professionals currently in the workplace.

Based on earlier work done on cultural competency by the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, See http://www.ipac-amic.org/publications.php, an extensive literature review, and consultation with national Aboriginal organizations, the “Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety in Nursing Education: A Framework for First Nation, Inuit and Métis Nursing” was developed and launched in 2009.

This seminal Framework is now being used as the basis for the further development and implementation of new curricula in Canadian Schools of Nursing as well as for the development and implementation of courses to meet the continuing education needs for health services delivery personnel working with First Nation, Métis and Inuit clients. This important work would not have been done without the funding provided by the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative, First Nations & Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada.

Background – Phase One

  • In 2007, the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada (A.N.A.C.), the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), convened a meeting of key stakeholders and content experts, including representatives from various First Nation, Inuit and Métis organizations, to explore approaches that would encourage recruitment, retention and support of First Nation, Inuit and Métis nurses.

  • With the input gathered from this meeting, A.N.A.C., along with CASN and CNA, developed a proposal that would facilitate curriculum changes in Nursing Schools through the development of a cultural competence and cultural safety framework. The overall objective of the framework is to enable all Nurses to provide optimal care for all First Nation, Inuit and Métis clients.

  • A.N.A.C , CASN and CNA formed a partnership initiative in 2008 and worked with a National Advisory Committee to jointly develop the Framework.

  • The Framework was officially launched on June 11, 2009 on National Reconciliation Day.

  • The launch took place at the Canadian Nurses Association Annual General Meeting in Ottawa

Advisory Committee

  • Eight national Aboriginal, First Nation, Métis and Inuit organizations form part of our Advisory Committee. They have provided input on the competencies and on what success would look like when fully integrated.

  • Other members vary depending on the project phase but they also include input from Aboriginal nursing students and representatives from community, education and regulatory organizations.

Where are we now? Phase Two

Nursing Schools:
Six nursing schools were selected from a “Call for proposals” to develop methods on how they would utilize the Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety Framework into curriculum at the pre-licensure level in their program. The schools are:

  1. St. Francis Xavier University (Nova Scotia)
  2. Nova Scotia Community College
  3. Laurentian University (Ontario)
  4. Trent University (Ontario)
  5. University of Alberta
  6. Langara College (British Columbia)

Continuing Education:
Working with the Canadian Healthcare Association, work is in progress on the development and implementation of continuing education materials that will be available in the fall of 2010.

Information on both these projects will be available in the near future.