Queen’s University, located in Kingston, Ontario stands on a strong history of scholarship, discovery, and innovation. Our education transforms Queen’s students. Our diversity enriches the community. Our research changes the world. Together, we are tackling humanity’s greatest challenges.

For over eighty years, Queen’s Nursing has been advancing health sciences and nursing scholarship through education, research, and clinical practice. Established in 1941, the school has continuously shaped the nursing profession through the collective pursuits of our students, faculty, and alumni.

Guided by Queen’s Health Sciences’ vision of Radical Collaboration for a healthier world, the School of Nursing centres on three key pillars of foci: nursing care and practice, wellness, and equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigeneity, and accessibility (EDIIA). These pillars underpin our commitment to providing a person-centered education that empowers nurses and highlights the potential of our profession. We are dedicated to continuing our legacy of excellence in nursing education and serving as a health partner to our communities.

Bachelor of Nursing Science (4 year) degree:

Queen’s BNSc degree is a four year, full-time program. We offer evidence-based teaching and hands-on practical experience in both clinical and community health settings, producing experienced, confident nursing graduates. Upon passing the professional certification exam, you will be designated as a Registered Nurse, ready to make a positive impact on health care.

BNSc Accelerated Standing Track

Same degree, same courses, same clinical hours.
Accelerate your nursing career with Queen’s Bachelor of Nursing Science AST program, designed to build on your previous university education and get ahead of the game. The AST program is completed in two years, including both summer terms. After passing the professional certification exam, graduates of this program are designated as Registered Nurses.”

Faculty of Health Sciences Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

Radical Collaboration 2026: Queen’s Health Science: Strategic Plan 2021-2026

Guiding Principles

Equity, Diversity, inclusion, Indigeneity and accessibility (one of five)

Strategic Priorities (one of five)

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity and Accessibility (EDIIA)

Transform internal structures for accessibility, inclusivity and belonging while embedding equity, inclusion and anti-racism into education, research, and care

• Embed EDIIA principles into our culture, research, and education in all dimensions, to create a culturally safe, inclusive environment
• Foster continual learning and unlearning among learners, staff, and faculty
• Develop learners who provide equitable, culturally safe care, and scientists who do research that is informed by EDIIA principles to enable better care and outcomes for all

Five-year outcome

Profile of students, staff and faculty matches that of the population

QHS EDIIA Action Plan

The QHS EDIIA Action Plan provides the Faculty with the detailed course of action that was created through our Dean’s Action Table for EDI. It provides the path towards a more equitable and inclusive cultural shift over the next 5 years. The QHS Office of Equity and Social Accountability will be monitor progress and advocate for effective implementation of the goals and actions outlined in the QHS EDIIA Action Plan. An annual status report will be released to demonstrate accountability to QHS learners, staff, faculty, and alumni. 

Office of Indigenous Health (OIH)

Dr. Sarah Funnell started her appointment as Associate Dean and Research Chair, Indigenous Health effective September 01, 2023 and is leading the establishment of the Office of Indigenous Health. She is also providing continuous strategic advice on Decolonizing/Indigenizing Queen’s Health Sciences programs.  

Queen’s Weeneebayko Health Education Program – Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) and Queen’s Health Sciences with support from the Mastercard Foundation, are co-creating a decolonized, interprofessional curricula for medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, midwifery, and paramedicine. The initiative will implement a comprehensive Health Careers Pathways Program to support Indigenous youth interested in pursuing healthcare professions.  The Program also allowed the Faculty of Health Sciences to host the WAHA summer camp.  Indigenous High School students from the James Bat area were invited to participate in a summer weeklong health sciences camp in July 2023.  

Ongoing coordination and facilitation of QuARMS mentorship sessions and or events with 20 QuARMS scholars and Indigenous and/or Black QuARMS faculty mentors.

Other activities:

• Dr. Sarah Funnell held a talk “Climbing the Mountain toward Reconciliation,” in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
• Dr. Sarah Funnell (Associated Dean, Indigenous Health) delivered a series of seminars/lectures across Queen’s Health Sciences programs: 
  • Sept 14, 2023: DFM SLT Education Retreat in Tyendinaga; 
  • Sept 29, 2023: Oct 4, 2023: Guest Lecture Bachelor Health Sciences GLPH 281; 
  • Oct 11, 2023: Core Internal Medicine Academic Half Day Teaching; 
  • Oct 13, 2023: DFM PGY 1 Indigenous Health Day; 
  • Oct 30, 2023: Public Health Preventive Medicine National Review Course; 
  • Nov 16, 2023: MEDS123 Treaties, Acts and UNDRIP; 
  • Nov 22, 2023: Public Health Sciences Seminar Series Speaker: 
  • Feb 2024: Guest Lecture Bachelor Health Sciences GLPH 281.
• Office of Indigenous health hosted viewing of the Canadian Medical Association apology in mid September 2024.Primary Care Team to host talk by the Traditional Healer Joe Pitawanakwat at the end of September 2024

Queen’s University

Queen’s Strategy Report on Progress 2023

One of the five Values:

Responsibility

We accept our responsibility to build a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist community for our people, to indigenize and decolonize the academy, and in all that we do, to observe the interests of the planet and the life it sustains.

Leading Change in our Community

In spring 2023, restructuring of the Senior Leadership team began to better reflect and deliver on the Queen’s mission, vision, and values, particularly the institution’s commitment to Indigenization – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Ant-Racism, and Accessibility (I-EDIAA) with the announcement that Stephanie Simpson will begin a new role as Vice-Principle (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) beginning in June 2023.

Call to Action # 24

We call upon medical and nursing schools in Canada to require all students to take a course dealing with Aboriginal health issues, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and practices. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Mandatory Course: In process. 

While we do not have a mandatory course for all the programs across the Faculty of Health Sciences, we continue to find ways to educate all students, staff and faculty in the area of Indigenous Health. The Office of Indigenous Health is expanding educational and professional development opportunities in Indigenous health not just in the classroom, but beyond.  

Health Sciences and OII have been working in partnership to create an online module that will accompany an in-person workshop (Planting the Seeds of Change) on cultural safety and awareness. This project is in the beginning stages, and we aim to complete it by Fall 2023. The intended use of this module is to be able to include it within QHS courses, but also to be openly accessible on the OII website.

The Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and MPHE programs are re-designing their curriculum to embed Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing

All the following are optional.

• Undergraduate medical education program is working with Indigenous medical students to enhance cultural competencies training. 
• Undergraduate students integrated cultural humility content into curriculum via the Cultural Humility Against Racism and Microaggressions (CHARMS) educational modules.
• Bachelor of Health Sciences Program offers courses such as Global Health and Racism and Health that centre around Indigenous focussed content.  
• Indigenous Healthcare Education and Practice modules open to all learners, staff, and faculty.  https://healthsci.queensu.ca/opdes/about-us/project-showcase/indigenous-healthcare-education-and-practice.

Course description: Found in the Academic Calendar:

A searchable list of course descriptions is found here.

School of Nursing Commitment to Call to Action # 24: 1 out of 5 = 20%

1. Aboriginal health issues

Limited. See mandatory course description.

2. The history and legacy of residential schools

Limited. No explicit reference.

3. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

No. No explicit reference.

4. Treaties and Aboriginal rights

No. No explicit reference.

5. Indigenous teachings and Practice

No. No explicit reference.

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing’s “Statement” of apology for colonial harms resulting from nursing education

Dec.11, 2023: CASN apologizes to Indigenous Peoples of Canada for Colonial harms resulting from nursing education…CASN is committed to a process of self-reflection, learning, and transformation. We will take the following steps to address the harms:

1. Anti-Racism, Cultural Safety, and Humility: Promote education, resources, and practices that address anti-Indigenous racism, supporting decolonization, cultural humility, and cultural safety for nursing faculty, staff, and students. Promote institutional policies and processes that address systemic racism to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
2. Curriculum Revision: Promote a review of nursing education curricula to ensure a strengths-based focus and trauma-informed approach, the inclusion of content on the continued impact of colonialism and racism on Indigenous health, as well as Indigenous perspectives on health and well-being.
3. Community Engagement: Establish meaningful partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities to ensure their voices are heard in shaping nursing education policies and practices.
4. Recruitment and Retention: Promote strategies that create culturally safe and supportive learning environments including pre-admission supports, in-program supports, and services that are developed in partnership with Indigenous communities.
5. Ongoing Accountability: In collaboration with Indigenous partners, establish mechanisms to monitor progress and address concerns raised by partners, Indigenous nursing students, and faculty.

Land Acknowledgement:

The Faculty of Health Sciences has a Land Acknowledgement on the EDIIA Initiatives website.

Queen’s University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. To acknowledge this traditional territory is to recognize its longer history, one predating the establishment of the earliest European colonies. It is also to acknowledge this territory’s significance for the Indigenous peoples who lived, and continue to live, upon it – people whose practices and spiritualities were tied to the land and continue to develop in relationship to the territory and its other inhabitants today.

The Kingston Indigenous community continues to reflect the area’s Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee roots. There is also a significant Métis community and there are First Peoples from other Nations across Turtle Island present here today.

Located on the Queen’s University Home Page

We are located in the city of Kingston, Ontario, Canada on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our campus community is deeply integrated into the city’s local and regional economy, culture, and social fabric.

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The Queen’s University Faculty of Health Science School of Nursing reviewed and approved the document. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Lead Researcher, Julia Dubé

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