Skip to main content

Foundations of Nursing and the Canadian Healthcare System Study Guide

This guide explores the historical and theoretical foundations of nursing, the Canadian healthcare system's structure and principles (including the Canada Health Act), primary health care, levels of care, and the legal and ethical frameworks governing nursing practice in Canada. It also touches upon professional identity development and clinical excellence.

Save this study guide to your study set

Sign up free

Your learning path

Communication Theory and Nursing Processes

Communication Theory in Nursing Practice

Nurses use communication to provide personalized care, accurate assessments, informed consent, shared decision-making, effective health teaching, and collaboration with the health care team.

  • Intrapersonal Communication
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Transpersonal Communication
  • Small Group Communication
  • Public Communication
  • Basic Elements of Communication
  • Factors that influence Communication

Cultural Safety and Nursing Practice

Cultural Safety in Nursing Practice

This content explores the historical development of culture, cultural competence, cultural safety, and cultural humility in relation to nursing practice and social determinants of health.

  • Cultural safety
  • Cultural competence
  • Cultural humility
  • Social determinants of health
  • Decolonizing approach
  • Indigenous cultural orientations
  • Person-centred care
  • Sociopolitical context
  • Historical context
  • Material and economic context
  • Physical context
  • Bias and discrimination
  • Transgender health experiences

Principles of Cultural Safety in Nursing

Providing culturally safe care involves cultural competence, cultural humility, and addressing power imbalances, inequitable social relationships, and social justice.

  • Cultural safety
  • Cultural competence
  • Cultural humility
  • Power imbalances
  • Social justice
  • Demeaning, Devaluing or Disempowering behaviours
  • Revise, Respect, and Rights of the person
  • Critical self-reflection
  • Cultural identity
  • Ethnohistory
  • Social organization
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Biocultural ecology
  • Language and communication
  • Religion and spirituality
  • Caring beliefs and practices

Cultural Safety and Indigenous History

This content explores culturally competent care, Indigenous history in Canada, and the colonial impacts of residential schools and the Indian Act.

  • culturally competent care
  • Indigenous Peoples in Canada
  • First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
  • Indigenous history and colonization
  • Residential schools
  • Indian Act
  • intergenerational trauma
  • self-determination

Course Introduction and Nursing Foundations

Introduction to Nursing and Canadian Healthcare

This course introduces the historical and theoretical foundations of nursing, the regulation of nursing as a profession, and the health care systems in Canada.

  • Historical evolution of nursing in Canada
  • Foundational nursing theories
  • Canadian health care system structure
  • Regulation of nursing as a profession
  • Reflective practice
  • Critical thinking
  • Clinical judgement
  • Evidence-informed nursing practice
  • Legal and ethical foundations of nursing
  • Canada Health Act
  • Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA)
  • Primary health care
  • Professional identity

Therapeutic and Nonverbal Communication Skills

Communication Theory and Therapeutic Communication

Researchers estimate meaning is transmitted through words, vocal cues, and nonverbal body cues to establish therapeutic interpersonal relationships.

  • Verbal communication
  • Nonverbal communication
  • Vocal cues
  • Denotative and connotative meaning
  • Therapeutic interpersonal relationships
  • Relational practice
  • Active listening
  • Person-centred communication
  • Open-ended questions
  • Eye contact
  • Posture
  • Gestures
  • Touch
  • Empathy
  • Authenticity

Indigenous History, Culture, and Colonial Impacts

Indigenous Cultural Safety and Nursing Practice

This content explores decolonizing approaches, Indigenous determinants of health, and the application of cultural safety, relational practice, and humility in nursing care for Indigenous Peoples.

  • Decolonization
  • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Indigenous Determinants of Health
  • Medicine Wheel teachings
  • Holistic health
  • Cultural safety
  • Cultural competency
  • Indigenous ways of knowing and being
  • Clan governance systems
  • Communication barriers
  • Relational practice
  • Indigenous storytelling
  • Sacred medicines

Course Grading, Evaluation, and Code of Conduct

Grading Policy and Seneca Code of Conduct

This topic describes the structure and components of the Canadian healthcare system, including levels of care, models of service delivery, and the Canada Health Act.

  • Canadian healthcare system structure
  • Levels of care
  • Models of service delivery
  • Federal versus provincial/territorial government roles
  • Primary health care principles
  • Population health approaches
  • Canada Health Act
  • Public and private healthcare funding models
  • Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA)
  • Healthcare access and equity

Person-Centered and Professional Communication Skills

Person-Centered and Professional Communication

Person-centered communication focuses on the person, family, and support network through verbal and nonverbal behaviours to achieve health-related goals.

  • Person-centered communication
  • Professional communication
  • Therapeutic communication
  • Verbal communication
  • Nonverbal communication
  • Barriers to effective communication
  • Building rapport
  • Shared partnership
  • Active listening
  • Empathy
  • Interpersonal boundaries

Understanding Empathy in Healthcare Communication

Relational Practice and Empathy in Healthcare

Relational practice involves actionable skills like empathy to enhance client outcomes through communication and human connection.

  • Empathy
  • Perspective taking
  • Emotional Validation
  • Relational Inquiry
  • Relational Practice
  • Relational Ethics
  • Caring in nursing theory
  • Communication skills

The Canadian Health Care System

Canadian Nursing Fundamentals and Health Equity

Readings and facts regarding Canadian nursing employment, social determinants of health, and Indigenous health equity in Canada.

  • Social determinants of health
  • Indigenous health equity
  • Nursing in Canada
  • Direct patient care
  • Health inequities for Black Canadians

The Canadian Health Care System

Medicare is Canada’s publicly funded health care system providing access to medically necessary insured services through provincial and territorial health insurance plans.

  • Canada Health Act (1984)
  • Public administration
  • Comprehensiveness
  • Universality
  • Portability
  • Accessibility
  • Health care spending
  • Federal transfer payments
  • Indigenous health care
  • First Nations and Inuit healthcare services
  • Indigenous Services Canada

Canadian Healthcare System and Ontario Services

An exploration of the evolution of the Canadian health care system, provincial government responsibilities, and OHIP coverage.

  • Canadian health care system
  • Northern communities healthcare
  • Strengths-based approach
  • Provincial and territorial government responsibilities
  • Canada Health Act principles
  • Health care insurance plans
  • OHIP coverage
  • OHIP+ eligibility

Evolution and Structure of Canadian Healthcare

This topic explores the evolution of the Canadian health care system.

  • Canadian Dental Care Plan
  • Professional jurisdiction
  • Nursing Act, 1991
  • Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), 1991
  • Canada Health Act
  • Canada Health Transfer payments
  • Health care spending
  • Regionalization and Recentralization
  • Ontario Health
  • Ontario Health Teams
  • Healthcare at Home

Foundations of Primary Health Care

Primary health care serves as the foundation of Canada’s health care system by providing continuity of care and emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention.

  • Primary Health Care
  • Primary care
  • Health promotion
  • Four Pillars of Primary Health Care
  • Barriers to Primary Health Care
  • Wholistic population approach
  • Continuity of care

Settings and Levels of Healthcare Delivery

Settings for healthcare delivery include the institutional sector and community sector, categorized into five levels of health care.

  • Institutional sector
  • Community sector
  • Hospitals
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Psychiatric facilities
  • Rehabilitation centres
  • Physician offices
  • Community health centres and clinics
  • Assisted living
  • Home care
  • Adult day support programs
  • Hospice and palliative care
  • Health promotion
  • Disease and injury prevention
  • Diagnosis and treatment
  • Rehabilitation
  • Supportive care
  • Primary care
  • Secondary care
  • Tertiary care

Challenges and Future of Canadian Healthcare

Current challenges to the health care system include sustainability, political economy of health, climate change, and the need for nursing's future in the emerging health care system.

  • Sustainability
  • Political Economy of Health
  • Climate Change
  • Primary Health Care vs. Primary Care Spending
  • Human Health Care Resources
  • Aging Canadian Population
  • Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
  • Geographical Distribution of services
  • Nursing roles and leadership
  • CNA Code of Ethics
  • Canada Health Act

Make it your own.

Keep these readings and topics in a new study set, or add them to one you already use.