Nursing is a professional practice discipline which offers a valuable service to the public by working with individuals, families, groups, and communities to develop and implement strategies to meet health care needs.  Caring is a central and dominant feature of nursing.

Nursing:

• considers the physical, psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual domains of clients;
• requires cultural sensitivity; and
• collaborates with clients, other health care providers, and the community.

Nursing is based on knowledge and skills developed in its own and related disciplines. Nursing knowledge is developed through research and other methods. Nursing advocates for a health care system that:

• emphasizes health promotion and illness prevention,
• is based on practical, affordable, manageable, and culturally acceptable care and technology; and
• is available for all clients in a universal, equitable manner.

Nursing education responds to societal concerns by developing a curriculum that is relevant and considers future trends in health care. Nursing education strives to provide an environment that is challenging and supportive, where all students learn the practice of nursing through the application and evaluation of knowledge, the practise of skills, and the internalization of caring and professional attitudes. A dynamic and positive relationship occurs between health care services and education through the sharing of knowledge, skills, and research.

The goal of the BScN program is to improve access to and successful completion of nursing education for residents of the North. The aim of the nursing program is to prepare professional nurses who will:

• practice with cultural sensitivity
• practice with awareness of particular health needs of northern populations
• practice assessment and promotion of holistic health with individuals, families, groups, and communities
• participate in activities that reflect the appraisal of population health needs and implement and evaluate the appropriate interventions to meet those needs
• make nursing judgments that reflect application of current nursing research and research from related disciplines
• practice in a broad range of settings with an emphasis on northern communities
• influence health services to bring about policy development that meets the health needs of northern populations
• practice effectively within collaborative interdisciplinary and intersectorial health care teams
• demonstrate critical thinking skills and effective clinical decision making
• demonstrate skills of a self-directed learner
• meet professional practice requirements as identified in the CRNBC Professional Standards for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
• NCBNP students will meet professional practice requirements as identified in the current CRNBC Competencies in Context of Entry-level Registered Nurse Practice in British Columbia