Office of Nursing Services

The Office of Nursing Services is a divison of Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB). ONS provides nursing leadership, support and consultation to nursing services within the department, encompassing the health needs of clients on reserve.

The Office of Nursing Services was established in 2001, and works in partnership with regional nursing teams and other directorates and programs. Jointly, First Nations and Inuit Health regions, Home and Community Care and the Office of Nursing Services share the vision of providing quality nursing practices to enhance the health of First Nations

The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Nursing Mission:

• To provide nursing services within a primary health care model.
  Primary health care refers to essential health care, based on sound knowledge and accessibility to community members. Primary health care services may include home health services, preventative medical and nursing care, health promotion services, public health nursing, as well as the treatment of ongoing health problems.
• To promote evidence-informed and culturally safe quality nursing services.

To be "evidence-informed" means to provide services that take into account the findings of quality, methodologically appropriate research.

"Culturally safe" health care refers to an attitude of meeting the needs of clients in a respectful way, allowing people to partner and participate in their care.

The Office of Nursing Services:

• Addresses nursing challenges, such as nursing shortages in FNIH regions and communities, at a strategic branch level;
• Supports national nursing recruitment and retention through training and development strategies, nursing programs, and professional opportunities;
• Supports inter-professional team practices and quality nursing services delivery models;
• Provides access to current evidence-informed nursing practices, standards, policies, and guidelines;
• Collaborates with its partners to establish and sustain nursing practice standards and competencies;
• Facilitates dissemination of best practices using networking and discussion forums;
• Addresses the need to monitor, analyze and report information that demonstrates the effectiveness of nursing services provided.

Resources

• Nursing in First Nations Communities
• Nurses in Profile
• Office of Nursing Services General Contact Information
• Office of Nursing Services Regional Contact Information