Community Health Nursing in Canada

Community health nursing competencies are required for entry level nursing practice in Canada and are tested on the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam. Community nursing practice in Canada focuses on promoting the health of populations and is much broader in scope than just going into the community to provide care to client's in their home.

Canadians are familiar with nurses in their communities. Visiting nurses have always provided care in people's homes and historically this was the most common way that individuals received nursing care prior to the establishment of community hospitals.

But the care provided to Canadians in the community by registered nurses was not limited to bedside nursing.

Registered nurses have always worked in the community setting providing health education, immunizations, post-natal support, and rehabilitation to a wide variety of clients experiencing a wide variety of health challenges.

You will note from this explanation from the Community Health Nurses Association of Canada that there is emphasis placed on the promotion of population health and the ability to engage in capacity building and community development.

There is also emphasis on understanding the social organization of the community and government structures and policies that are the context of community nursing.

Another part of the definition that is important to understand is the reference to collaboration in nursing practice.

The Canadian Registered Nurse Exam

The promotion of population health requires special knowledge and skills which are included in the entry level nursing competencies in Canada.

All nurses educated in Canada are prepared to meet theses competencies for working as a community health nurse. No additional education is needed other than the university degree required for graduation.

In Canada, the community health nurse practices under the same nursing scope of practice as the registered nurse practicing in a hospital and providing bedside care.

The community health nurse and the bedside nurse must also maintain the same nursing standards of practice set by the provincial regulatory nursing organization.