The University of Alberta in Edmonton is one of the top teaching and research universities in Canada, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering and health sciences.

The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta is one of the largest nursing faculties in the country, and unique as the only Canadian member of the National Hartford Centers for Gerontological Nursing Excellence. We have more doctorally-prepared faculty members than any other school in the west. As a pioneer in Canadian nursing education, we implemented the first Master of Nursing program in Western Canada in 1975, and began the first fully-funded Nursing PhD program in Canada in 1991.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) – Honours

The BScN-Honors Program provides the same clinical preparation as the Collaborative and After Degree Programs. In addition, Honors students will gain more in-depth knowledge in the area of research and — mentored and supported by a Faculty of Nursing researcher — carry out an Honors research project.

Our current Honors students are engaged in various areas of research. This program is one of only a few nursing honors programs available in Canada and provides an exciting opportunity for students to obtain more advanced preparation in scholarly and research work to enrich their undergraduate program experience. The program helps prepare students to provide evidence-based nursing practice in health-care settings, as well as to facilitate the transition from undergraduate to graduate studies in nursing.

Collaborative BScN Program

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)-Collaborative Program is primarily for high school graduates or those who have some post-secondary education, and is designed as a four-year full-time program. The program is called “collaborative” because, in addition to being offered at the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton, all four years can be taken at Red Deer Polytechnic (formerly Red Deer College), Keyano College (Fort McMurray) or Northwestern Polytechnic (formerly Grande Prairie Regional College). After the third year of the program, students from those three locations apply to the University of Alberta and are considered U of A students for their fourth year, but still remain at the campus of the original institution.

BScN Bilingual  Program 

The BScN (Bilingual) program is a collaborative effort between the Faculty of Nursing and Faculté Saint-Jean, funded in part by Health Canada and in part by the Province of Alberta. This program offers students the opportunity to study nursing in Canada’s two official languages. It is designed to:

• respond to a need expressed by students who wish to obtain a bilingual degree in nursing in Alberta
• offer a program that prepares graduates to provide nursing services in both official languages
• offer a program that better prepares graduates to respond to the needs of the French-speaking communities in Western and Northern Canada

Students in our Bilingual Nursing program are required to take SCSOC 222, which is a course in Indigenous health and conception of wellbeing.

Faculty of Nursing Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

Faculty of Nursing 2020 Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity

Strategic Directions

We will advance the process of Canadian Reconciliation by acting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action (#18-24) by:

• Preparing nursing graduates to meet the healthcare needs of Indigenous persons and communities.
• Increasing the number of clinical placements in Indigenous Healthcare Agencies, and/or locations that provide care primarily to Indigenous Communities.
• Integrating Indigenous Health issues and considerations throughout all courses in the UG and Graduate program(s) (e.g. case studies, plans of care, issues/ethics).
• Developing thoughtful, respectful, meaningful and sustainable relationships between Indigenous Communities and the Faculty.
• Reassessing the current structure of the Indigenous Advisory Board to ensure effective ways to engage Indigenous partners and advisors.
• Fostering relationship and collaboration with the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association.
• Partnering with the UA Council on Aboriginal Initiatives for volunteers to serve on the FON advisory board.
• Establishing a closer collaboration and connection with UA Town Youth Participation Strategies (TYPS) program.
• Implementing purposeful recruitment of Indigenous Faculty members, as well as undergraduate and graduate students
• Reviewing structure and processes of Indigenous Health Nursing Strategy
• Providing ongoing education/development opportunities for faculty, students and staff on Indigenous issues/TRC
• Promoting Indigenous scholarship and research
• Develop a database that will include all past, current and future EDI activities.

The University of Alberta

Indigenous Strategic Plan: “Braiding Past, Present and Future”

This plan reflects an important step in our institution’s commitment to reconciliation in post-secondary education, research and addressing the historical legacy of the residential school system and Canada’s colonial history in a meaningful and lasting way.

The Braid

The plan is grouped into three categories or “strands”– symbolizing the responsibilities of the Sweetgrass Teachings: looking to the past, in-powering the present and imagining the future. These three groupings represent a sweetgrass braid and the accompanying prairie and parkland-based Indigenous understandings (where the University of Alberta is primarily, though importantly, not only, based). In many Indigenous cultures, the braid also represents mind, body and spirit and the balance between the three for good health and harmony in individuals and communities.

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: Yes. For both Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) and Collaborative program 

INT D 222 (★3) Indigenous Health in Canada (Equivalent to NURS 222)

This course is offered in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, and is the beginning step to culturally safe interaction and practice. Focus is on introducing students to a variety of historical realities and contemporary issues relevant to Indigenous health in Canada. Students will examine issues and contributions facing settler relations from a historical, contemporary and critical perspective, with a focus on health and well-being. 

Course description: found here:

Additionally, students in our Bilingual Nursing program are required to take SCSOC 222, which is a course in Indigenous health and conception of wellbeing.

SCSOC 222 – Santé des Autochtones et conceptions du bien-vivre

Ce cours a pour but de répondre aux appels à l’action de la Commission de vérité et réconciliation. Dans ce contexte, on vise à comprendre les inégalités sociales, les enjeux historiques et les questions contemporaines liées à la santé des Autochtones au Canada. Le cours examinera les déterminants sociaux de la santé à partir des perspectives autochtones. De plus, le cours introduit un cadre de décolonisation et expérientiel pour examiner la conception autochtone du bien-vivre et ses méthodes de bien-être. Note La priorité sera accordée aux étudiants du BScInf (bilingue).

School of Nursing Commitment to Call to Action # 24: 5 out of 5 = 100% 

1. Aboriginal health issues
Yes. See mandatory course description.
2. The history and legacy of residential schools
Yes. See mandatory course description.
3. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Yes. The focus of Week 5, Classes 9 & 10 in the mandatory course “Indigenous Health in Canada”.
4. Treaties and Aboriginal rights	Treaties and Aboriginal rights
Yes. Addressed throughout the mandatory course “Indigenous Health in Canada”. From week 1 where students begin by writing land acknowledgements, to the final weeks where they develop reconcile-action projects, these concepts are thoughtfully interwoven.
5. Indigenous teachings and practice
Yes. See mandatory course description.

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: 

Located on the Faculty of Nursing Home Page and the University of Alberta Home Page 

The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs, and research stations are primarily located on the traditional territory of Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, and Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe nations; lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations.

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The University of Alberta Faculty of Nursing reviewed and approved the document. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Research Assistant:  Timothy Maton