Nursing
Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) nurses
provide quality nursing practice to enhance the health of First Nations
people which is evidence informed and respectful of culture.
Where nurses work
 Nurses
work in First Nations communities south of 60 degrees in rural, remote
or isolated communities. With more than 600 First Nations communities
across Canada, there are 76 nursing stations and over 195 health centres
servicing these communities. Nurses are often the communities' main point
of contact with the health care system. In about half of theses health
facilities, registered nurses are employed by Health Canada, part of
the Federal Government. In the other communities, nurses are employed
by the Band Council as these communities have responsibility for health
care services through a transfer agreement.
For more information on where nurses work, please see Employment
Opportunities.
Through the Office
of Nursing Services (ONS) and the Regional Offices of FNIHB, Health
Canada employs hundreds of nurses. FNIHB regional offices ensure service,
support and management such as providing orientation for newly recruited
nurses. ONS develops standards, policies, guidelines and leads national
initiatives.
What nurses do
Providing primary health care in remote and culturally diverse communities
places unique demands on nurses in First Nations communities. In homes,
schools, health centres and nursing stations, nurses might be:
- Visiting new parents, facilitating new baby care;
- Providing immunization;
- Encouraging physical activity;
- Facilitating community education sessions;
- Providing primary care services for common conditions during scheduled
clinics; and
- Attending to emergency needs (for example: trauma, obstetrical emergencies
and cardiac conditions).
Primary care
As there is limited access to hospitals and doctors, nurses in remote
communities often provide care that requires advanced knowledge, skills
and clinical judgment. Health Canada employed nursed use a holistic approach
to care for clients requiring treatment for routine, acute and emergency
health problems, focusing on:
- Health promotion;
- Disease prevention;
- Illness management; and
- Clinical assessment.
Community health nursing
Nurses working in First Nations communities are responsible for planning
and implementing culturally appropriate health programs.
For the nurse who lacks formal education in community health nursing,
there is a requirement by Health Canada that the nurse must successfully
complete appropriate courses in this field. FNIHB employed nurses are
provided with financial support to complete this education. Course credits
can be earned toward the baccalaureate nursing degree.
To learn more...
If you would like to know more about FNIHB nursing, see:
Related sources
Additional information related to nursing in First Nations Communities
is available from these sources:
Standards of practice
The following publications provide assessment resources and guidelines
for nurses working in First Nations Communities:
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