Advisory Committee – Practice Domain for Baccalaureate Nursing Education: Guidelines for Clinical Placements and Simulation

Chair: Barbara Wilson-Keates and Louise-Andrée Brie 

Board Liaison: TBD

Staff Liaison: Andrea Harvey

TOR Content TBD

Advisory Committee – Nurse Practitioner Education in Canada – National Framework of Guiding Principles and Essential Components

Chair: Ruth Martin-Misener  

Board Liaison: Ruth Martin-Misener

Staff Liaison: Andrea Harvey

Advisory Committee – Community Health Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing Education

Chair: Shari Laliberte and Cheryl Cusack  

Board Liaison: TBD

Staff Liaison: Andrea Harvey

Mandate

To update CASN’s Entry-to-Practice Public Health Nursing Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing Education.

Terms of Reference

1. Identify the core content for public health competencies that reflect current and future public health nursing practice
2. Follow CASN’s established process for updating competencies (see attached)
3. Suggest experts to be consulted
4. Develop a report regarding the update of the competencies

Membership and Term of Office

• Chair, chosen by the committee
• 10 nursing faculty members with expertise in public health nursing
• 3 nursing students at baccalaureate or master’s level
• 2 public health nurses working in the healthcare system
• Membership will reflect diversity (e.g., geographical, rural/urban, cultural background, ethnic background, gender identification)

Meetings

The Committee will meet:

• Virtually, 3-4 times during the next 12 months
• At the call of the Chair

CASN will provide support for the Committee.

Chair: Nancy Carter    

Board Liaison: Ruth Martin-Misener

Staff Liaison: Andrea Harvey

Graduate Education Committee

CASN Operational Committee

Mandate

To influence the development of principles and guidelines for graduate nursing education and scholarship in Canada.

Terms of Reference

1. To promote the quality of graduate nursing education in Canada.
2. To promote the expansion and revision of graduate nursing education in Canada.
3. To provide expertise in developing CASN position papers, other publications and resources relevant to graduate studies.
4. To provide expertise related to graduate nursing education for CASN’s National Nursing Education Framework.
5. To advise on issues related to graduate studies programming, curriculum, and accreditation.
6. To advise on the required fiscal and human resources to provide a nursing program.
7. To plan an annual Forum to address issues related to graduate nursing education
8. To provide an annual report to the CASN Board of Directors

Membership and Terms of Office

• Chair from a CASN member school’s graduate studies program.
  • Two-year term selected by the committee, renewable twice.
• Normally, two members from each region (Western-Northwestern, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic) who teaches in a graduate program at a CASN member school:
  • Chair can represent a region.
  • Two-year terms, renewable twice
  • Consideration:
    • Representation from a school that has a baccalaureate, masters and doctoral program
• A representative who teaches in a Nurse Practitioner program.
• An Indigenous representative who is faculty at the graduate level.
• A member of the CASN Board of Directors to serve as liaison to the Board.
• President of CASN, Ex-officio.
• Executive Director of CASN, Ex-officio.

Meetings

The Graduate Education Committee will normally meet:

• Virtually (usually four times per year)
• At the call of the Chair

CASN will provide support for meetings and the work of the Committee.

These terms of reference will be reviewed at least every two years.

Approved: November 8, 2021 

Chair: Nicole Harder   

Board Liaison: Marjolaine Héon  

Staff Liaison: Andrea Harvey

Undergraduate Education Committee

CASN Operational Committee

Mandate

To influence the development of principles and guidelines for undergraduate nursing education in Canada.

Terms of Reference

1. To promote the quality of undergraduate nursing education in Canada.
2. To provide expertise in developing CASN position papers, other publications and resources relevant to undergraduate nursing studies.
3. To provide expertise related to undergraduate nursing education for CASN’s National Nursing Education Framework.
4. To advise on issues related to undergraduate studies programming, curriculum, and accreditation.
5. To advise on the required fiscal and human resources to provide a nursing program.
6. To plan an annual Forum to address issues related to undergraduate nursing education.
7. To provide an annual report to the CASN Board of Directors.

Term of Office and Membership

• Chair from an undergraduate program at a CASN member school.
  • Two-year term selected by committee, renewable twice.
• Normally, two members from each region (Western-Northwestern, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic) who teach in an undergraduate program at a CASN member school:
  • Chair can represent a region.
  • Two-year terms, renewable twice.
  • Considerations:
    • Representation from a school that has a baccalaureate, masters and doctoral program.
    • Representation from a college program.
    • Representation from rural/remote and from urban schools
• Indigenous representation with nursing experience (e.g., faculty, alumni, student)
• A representative from the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association
• Additional expertise as required
• A member of the CASN Board of Directors to serve as liaison to the Board
• President of CASN, Ex-officio
• Executive Director of CASN, Ex-officio

Meetings

The Undergraduate Education Committee will normally meet:

• Virtually (usually four times a year)
• At the call of the Chair

CASN will provide support for meetings and the work of the Committee.

These terms of reference will be reviewed at least every two years.

Approved: November 2021

Reapproved, November 2023

Chair: Kate McCullogh  

Board Liaison: Leanne Kelly

Staff Liaison: Kristine Crosby

Indigenous Nurses and Allies Committee

CASN Operational Committee

Mandate

To support Indigenization of the nursing curriculum, and the recruitment and retention of Indigenous nursing faculty and students.

Terms of Reference

1. To share information and strategies regarding the decolonization and Indigenization of nursing curricula;
2. To promote strategies that support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous nursing faculty;
3. To promote strategies that support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students in nursing programs;
4. To promote a commitment to reconciliation amongst faculty, staff and students in nursing programs.
5. To develop CASN position statements, guidelines or other documents on topical issues;
6. To report regularly to the CASN Board of Directors.

Membership and Term of Office

• The Chair will be selected from within and by the Committee
  • The Chair will serve a renewable, two-year term
• Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty from CASN member schools engaged in work that will contribute to the mandate of the Committee
• A member of the CASN Board of Directors will serve as the Board liaison
• President of CASN, Ex-officio
• Executive Director of CASN, Ex-officio

Meetings

The committee will normally meet:

• Virtually (usually 4 times a year)
• At the call of the Chair

Support for the meetings and work of the Committee will be provided by CASN National Office staff, as identified by the Executive Director.

Approved: November 13, 2022

Chair: Rolling Chair

Board Liaison: Colleen Maykut

Staff Liaison: Kristine Crosby

Research and Scholarship Committee

CASN Operational Committee

Mandate

To promote the advancement of nursing knowledge by supporting nursing research and scholarship opportunities.

Terms of Reference

1. To provide expertise on policy, position statements, and guidelines on issues related to research and scholarship.
2. To promote the science of nursing and of nursing education.
3. To build nursing research capacity and heighten the profile of nursing research.
4. To promote and foster scholarship amongst CASN members.
5. To support the development of the next generation of nursing researchers.
6. To establish the criteria for and participate in the selection process of nursing research awards.
7. To provide an annual report to the CASN Board of Directors.

Membership and Term of Office

• Chair, two-year term selected by the committee
• Four other members who are active researchers or scholars:
• Will consider geographical representation
• One from a non-research-intensive university or college
• Three-year term, renewable by appointment twice for a maximum of two consecutive terms
• An Associate Dean responsible for Research (or equivalent) in the university sector
• President of CASN, Ex-officio
• Executive Director of CASN, Ex-officio

Meetings

The committee will normally meet:

• Virtually (usually 4 times a year)
• At the call of the Chair

CASN will provide support for the meetings and work of the committee.

These terms of reference will be reviewed at least every two years.

Approved: January, 2023 

Chair: Roger Pilon

Board Liaison: Debbie Sheppard-Lemoine

Staff Liaison: Layal Bou Abdo

CASN Operational Committee

Mandate

Provides advice to the Board of Directors on continuous improvement and accountability of the Accreditation Program.

Terms of Reference

1. To propose policies and processes for the evaluation, and revision of the accreditation programs (baccalaureate, practical nurse, nurse practitioner, internationally educated nurse and international).
2. To make recommendations on issues relevant to the CASN Accreditation Programs referred by the Board of Directors, the Education Committee, or the Accreditation Bureau.
3. To propose changes to the accreditation standards, descriptors, elements, and interpretations to the CASN Board of Directors.
4. To report on its activities to the Board of Directors.

Term of Office and Membership

The CASN Advisory Committee on Accreditation Policy consists of twelve members:

• Eight faculty representatives, with accreditation related experience and representing each of the CASN regions and each of the accreditation programs;
• One representative of a regulatory body;
• One representative from the Education Committee;
• One liaison representative from the Board of Directors;
• One external representative from another accrediting body that accredits its members;
• In addition, the CASN Executive Director is a non-voting ex-officio members;
• No member of the CASN Accreditation Bureau shall be appointed to the CASN Advisory Committee on Accreditation Policy;
• To ensure continuity, the terms of office for members will be three years with a three-term maximum;
• A Chair or two Co-Chairs shall be chosen and elected by the Advisory Committee on Accreditation Policy;
• Members of the Advisory Committee on Accreditation Policy shall sign commitment forms and comply with CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines; and,
• CASN accreditation staff will provide administrative support to the CASN Advisory Committee on Accreditation Policy.

Meetings

The CASN Advisory Committee on Accreditation Policy will normally meet at least once per year, virtually at the call of the Chairperson.

Approved by CASN Board of Directors: June 2024 

Chair: Sylvie Larocque and Jo-Ann Macdonald

Board Liaison: N/A (Board of Directors is at arm’s length)

Staff Liaison: Layal Bou Abdo

Mandate

The CASN Accreditation Bureau (CAB) acts as the decision-making body regarding CASN Accreditation status and terms, and functions within established CASN policy and guidelines.

Terms of Reference

1. To evaluate entry-to-practice degree programs that lead to the Registered Nurse designation and degree programs for Registered Nurses with a diploma.
2. To make accreditation decisions while acting independently of the CASN Board of Directors (BoD) and CASN Council.
3. To report accreditation-aggregated decisions to the BoD, which reports them to CASN Council.

Term of Office and Membership

The term of office is three years, and a member can be re-appointed or stand for election for a second term, except for the regulatory body representative, who is not eligible for reappointment.

Voting members of the Accreditation Bureau consist of:

• Five members, with full-time faculty positions in CASN member schools, elected by CASN Council;
• One representative of a service agency nominated by the Canadian Nurses Association and appointed by the BoD;
• One academic representative nominated by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and appointed by the BoD;
• One community representative nominated by a member's school and appointed by the BoD;
• One regulatory body representative nominated by a regulatory body association in Canada and appointed by the BoD;
• One consumer (student/graduate) representative, nominated by a CASN member school, and appointed by the BoD;
• The CASN President and Executive Director are non-voting ex officio members of the Accreditation Bureau;

No member of CASN Council or Board of Directors shall be appointed to the Accreditation Bureau.

Accreditation Bureau Members sign commitment forms and comply with the most recent

CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines; and,

The College of Nurses of Ontario has the right to have a non-voting observer present during the discussions and decisions involving institutions in Ontario

Responsibilities

• CAB Members are responsible for making decisions related to Accreditation;
• The members of the Accreditation Bureau serve and vote as individuals and not as representatives of their home institution;
• The Chair or Co-chairs is/are elected each year by CAB members; faculty members of CAB may be nominated to stand for election as the Chairperson or Co-chairperson; the Chairperson or Co-chairs is/are elected by the voting members of CAB;
• The Accreditation Bureau Chair or one Co-chair reports on the Bureau’s activities to the CASN Board of Directors; and
• At least five members of the Accreditation Bureau shall be able to read documents in both French and English.

Meetings

The Accreditation Bureau will normally meet a minimum of twice per year and at other times as required in person or by teleconference, on the call of the Chair. A simple majority constitutes a quorum for decisions by the Accreditation Bureau.

Chair: Patricia Bradley     

Board Liaison: N/A (Board of Directors is at arm’s length)

Staff Liaison: Layal Bou Abdo

Mandate

The CASN IEN Accreditation Bureau (IEN-CAB) makes accreditation decisions regarding IEN bridging programs that have applied for an accreditation review, have carried out a self-evaluation and have undergone an on-site visit by peer reviewers. It functions under the established policy and guidelines published in CASN Accreditation Program for IEN Bridging Programs (2018).

Terms of Reference

1. To evaluate international educated nursing programs for Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and/or Registered Practical Nurses (RPN).
2. To make one of the following accreditation decisions while acting independently of the CASN IEN Advisory Committee:

• Grant 5-year accreditation (no recommendations)
• Grant 5-year accreditation with recommendations
• Grant 3-year accreditation with recommendations
• Grant 3-year accreditation with recommendations and an on-site visit
• Grant probationary accreditation (1-3 years)
• Deny accreditation

3. To report accreditation-aggregated decisions to the CASN Board of Directors.                     

Term of Office and Membership

The term of office is two or three years, and a member can be appointed for one additional year. For the first term, half of the members of the committee will stand for two years, and half will stand for three years.

Voting members of the IEN Accreditation Bureau are:

• Three nurse educators with at least three years of experience teaching in an IEN bridging program within the last five years. These members will be nominated by a faculty member from an IEN program and appointed by the CASN Board of Directors. One of the three nurse educators will be from a blended program and one from an in-class program;
• One representative of a service agency that employs IEN’s. This representative is nominated by faculty or heads at a school that has an IEN program and is appointed by the IEN Advisory Committee;
• A member from another profession who is nominated by a faculty member from an IEN program and appointed by the IEN Advisory Committee;
• One community representative nominated by a faculty member from an IEN program and appointed by the CASN Board of Directors;
• One representative of a regulatory body which regulates registered nurses or practical nurses. This representative is nominated by the regulatory body and is appointed by the CASN BoD; and,
• One consumer (graduate of a bridging program) representative nominated by a school that has an IEN bridging program and is appointed by the IEN Advisory Committee.

Responsibilities

No member of CASN Council or Board of Directors shall be appointed to the IEN –CAB. 

• Members attend the orientation to the role conducted by CASN accreditation staff;
• Members sign commitment forms for their term in office;
• Members comply with the most recent CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines;
• Members make decisions related to accreditation;
• Members vote as individuals and not as representatives of their home institution;
• Members elect a chair or co-chair each year by CAB members;
• Members who are faculty members of IEN-CAB may be nominated to stand for election as the Chairperson or Co-chairperson; and,
• The IEN-CAB co-chair or chair reports on the IEN-CAB activities to the CASN Board of Directors annually.

Meetings

The Accreditation Bureau normally meets a minimum of three times a year. One meeting per year is in person, and the other times are by teleconference. A simple majority constitutes a quorum for decisions by the IEN Accreditation Bureau.

Chair: Rosemary Wilson  

Board Liaison: N/A (Board of Directors is at arm’s length)

Staff Liaison: Layal Bou Abdo

Mandate

The CASN Nurse Practitioner (NP) Accreditation Bureau (NP CAB) acts as the decision-making body regarding CASN NP Accreditation status and terms, and functions within established CASN NP policy and guidelines.

Terms of Reference

1. To evaluate Nurse Practitioner programs that lead to a graduate degree.
2. To make accreditation decisions.
3. To report accreditation-aggregated decisions to the CASN Board of Directors.  

Term of Office and Membership

The term of office is three years, and a member can agree to continue for one additional year. In order to transfer knowledge effectively, one half of the first faculty members will have their initial term of four years rather than three. NP program faculty members are nominated by faculty who teach in NP programs and who are then elected by the graduate studies members.

Existing CAB members will overlap with the membership of the Nurse Practitioner Accreditation Bureau and will carry on with their terms as indicated in CASN’s By-Laws.

The ten voting members of the NP Accreditation Bureau are:

• Four NP program faculty members. These representatives have at least three years of experience in teaching in a graduate-level NP program. 
• One NP program administrator.
• One representative of a service agency that employs NP’s.
• One public representative.
• One regulatory body representative.
• One consumer (graduate of an NP program) representative.
• A faculty from another profession that involves NP’s. 

Notes

• No administrative head of an NP program, reviewers, advisory committee members, nor CASN Board of Directors members shall be appointed to the NP Accreditation Bureau;
  
• NP Accreditation Bureau Members sign commitment forms and comply with the most recent CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines; and,
  
• From time to time, observers (i.e. from regulatory bodies) may be appointed to observe at NP Accreditation Bureau meetings. In advance of these meetings, the observers must sign a commitment form and complete it with the most recent CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines.
  

Responsibilities

• NP CAB Members are responsible for making decisions related to NP Accreditation;
  
• The members of the NP Accreditation Bureau serve and vote as individuals and not as representatives of their home institution;
  
• The Chair or Co-chairs is/are elected each year by NP CAB members; faculty members of CAB may be nominated to stand for election as the Chairperson or Co-chairperson; the Chairperson or Co-chairs  is/are elected by the voting members of CAB;
  
• The Accreditation Bureau Chair or one Co-chair reports on the Bureau’s activities to the CASN Board of Directors; and
  
• At least one (1) of the members of the Accreditation Bureau shall be able to read documents in both French and English.

Meetings

The Accreditation Bureau will normally meet a minimum of three times, once per year in person and at other times as required by teleconference, on the call of the Chair.  A simple majority constitutes a quorum for decisions by the NP Accreditation Bureau

Chair: Michael Scarcello  

Board Liaison: N/A (Board of Directors is at arm’s length)

Staff Liaison: Layal Bou Abdo

Mandate

The PN-CASN Accreditation Bureau (CAB) acts as the decision-making body regarding CASN Accreditation status and terms, and functions within established CASN policy and guidelines.

Terms of Reference

1. To evaluate diploma programs that lead to the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) designation.
2. To make accreditation decisions while acting independently of the CASN Board of Directors (BoD) and the Practical Nurse Council.
3. To ensure that the names of the accredited programs are published on the CASN website. 

Term of Office and Membership

The term of office is three years, and a member can be re-appointed or stand for election, for a second term, except for the regulatory body representative, who is not eligible for reappointment. All members are nominated by the heads of Practical Nurse programs, and the faculty members are elected by CASN Practical Nurse Council members. The non-faculty members are appointed by the Practical Nurse Accreditation Program Advisory Committee.

Voting members of the Accreditation Bureau consist of:

• Three members, with full-time faculty/teaching positions in practical nurse programs;
• One representative of a service agency that hires practical nurses;
• One community representative;
• One regulatory body representative;
• One consumer (student/graduate) representative;
• The CASN Executive Director is a non-voting ex officio member of the Accreditation Bureau;

Responsibilities

• PN-CAB Members are responsible for making decisions related to the accreditation of practical nursing programs;
  
• Decision-making is independent of the Practical Nurse Accreditation Program Council and of the CASN Board of Directors;
  
• The members of the PN-CAB serve and vote as individuals and not as representatives of their home institution or organization;
  
• Practical Nurse CASN Accreditation Bureau Members sign commitment forms and comply with the most recent CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines;
  
• Should a regulatory review be conducted in concert with a CASN accreditation review, the relevant regulatory body may send a staff member as an observer to the meeting during which a school in their province is being discussed. This representative also signs the CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines.
  
• The Chair or Co-chair is elected each year by the PN-CAB members. The PN faculty members of PN-CAB may be nominated to stand for election as the Chairperson or Co-chairperson.
  
• The PN-CAB Chair or one Co-chair submits an annual report in May on the Bureau’s decision-making activities to the PN Accreditation Council and to the CASN Board of Directors without naming the institutions involved; and,
  
• At least two members of the PN-CAB shall be able to read documents in both French and English.

Meetings

The Accreditation Bureau will normally meet as required in person or by teleconference, on the call of the Chair.  A simple majority constitutes a quorum for decisions by the Accreditation Bureau.

Chair: TBD

Board Liaison: Tess Kroeker

Staff Liaison: Layal Bou Abdo and Leah Watts

CASN Certification Board

Reports to the CASN Board of Directors

Mandate

The CASN Certification Board establishes and regularly reviews (every 5 years) policies for the CASN Certification Program in accordance with international standards.

Terms of Reference

1. To act as a governance committee overseeing the evaluation of candidates in CASN’s certification specialties (currently CCSNE, CCCI and CCNE) by establishing fair and equitable policies and procedures.
2. To make decisions about the certification programs in accordance with its policies while acting independently of the CASN Board of Directors (BoD).
3. To report accreditation-aggregated decisions to the BoD at least annually.

Term of Office and Membership

The term of office is three years, and a member can be re-appointed by the CASN Board of Directors once for a second term. Members of the first Certification Board may continue in their roles for an additional half term beyond a second term in order to stagger the membership.

Voting members of the CASN Certification Board consists of:

• Four members, with full-time faculty positions in each of CASN’s regions who are not certified;
• A member from each of the lists of certified faculty members;
• One academic representative of another health care profession that certifies its members;
• One consumer representative;
• One representative from an institution that hires certified graduates;
• One nursing researcher who studies certification;
• The CASN Executive Director is a non-voting ex officio member of the Certification Board.

Responsibilities

• Certification Board Members sign commitment forms and comply with the most recent CASN Conflict of Interest Guidelines.
• The members of the Certification Board serve and vote as individuals and not as representatives of their home institution or organization;
• The Chair or Co-chairs is/are elected periodically by Certification Board members;
• The CASN Executive Director reserves the right to appoint the chair or co-chairs for the first term after the Certification Board has been established;
• The Certification Board reports to the CASN Board of Directors annually.

Meetings

The Certification Board will meet annually or more frequently as required in person or virtually, on the call of the Chair. A simple majority constitutes a quorum for decisions.

Approved by the CASN BoD (May 2022)

To be reviewed in May 2027 

Chair: Martha Paynter

Board Liaison: Kim Daly

Staff Liaison: Kristine Crosby

Background

The availability of the abortion pill, mifepristone, has changed the approach to delivery of abortion care services in Canada. Lack of access to educational resources for healthcare professionals (HCPs) to identify and utilize appropriate approaches and strategies for high-quality appropriate care provision to equity-deserving groups is, however, a challenge. There is also an urgent requirement for patient-facing resources to help patients requiring abortions make an informed decision. The current project answers a Health Canada call to address these challenges by curating resources to improve health care providers’ expertise in providing de-stigmatized and contextually appropriate abortion care for populations facing intersecting systemic barriers, and similarly, to reduce gaps in information available for under-served populations. [Excerpt from the Project Protocol].

Although there have been regulatory changes to help increase access to abortion care in Canada, many barriers remain. Health Canada approved medical abortions in 2017 and added Nurse Practitioners to the list of prescribers. There are around 100,000 abortions in Canada annually, yet education related to abortion care is limited among health care provider training. To promote and support schools of nursing in Canada to include abortion care in their courses related to reproductive and public health, guidelines for nursing education are needed.

Mandate

The Access to Abortion Project Advisory Committee will inform and guide CASNs part of the larger Health Canada-funded project “The CART Access Project: Advancing access to abortion for under-served populations through tools for healthcare professionals and people seeking care”. The Advisory Committee will assist CASN, who has committed to working together with the other project partners, to carry out the project activities to help strengthen abortion care in nursing education curricula.

1. To develop competencies for nursing education related to abortion care to promote and guide curricular change in Canadian schools of nursing.
2. To develop and implement a knowledge mobilization process to inform current nurse educators about the competencies.

Terms of Reference

1. Working with CASN staff, the Advisory Committee will inform and guide the project on the following activities:
   • The development of entry to practice education guidelines for nursing to promote and guide curricular change in Canadian schools/faculties;
   • Guide the program for a virtual National Stakeholder Forum for input on the draft competencies;
   • Guide the program for two (one English and one French) virtual forums to disseminate the competencies.
   • Communication, dissemination, and sustainable knowledge mobilization strategies.
2. The Advisory Committee will be supported by Project staff as appropriate.
3. Advisory Committee members are committed to respectful language and work environment and will act in good faith in a respectful and collegial manner including working cooperatively, honestly, with fairness and respect; and performing responsibilities with professionalism and behaving ethically.

Term of Office and Membership

The Advisory Committee’s project work will begin in April 2023 through to March 2024, or until the project is completed. Members of the committee include:

• Representation from across Canada
• Representation from nurses in practice
• Indigenous nurse educator or nurse in practice
• Key expert on gender

Meetings

The Advisory Committee will meet virtually monthly, or as needed. There will be a virtual National Stakeholder Forums that the Advisory Committee is asked to attend.

Approved by the Project Advisory Committee: April 27, 2023 

Chair: Ruth Schofield     

Board Liaison: Luigi Imbrogno

Staff Liaison: Kristine Crosby and Roxanne Nizio

Climate-Driven Infectious Disease

Advisory Committee

Background

In 2018, CASN received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for a project titled “Empowering the next generation of health care professionals with knowledge, skills, tools, and supports to address infectious disease related to climate change in Canada”. As part of this project, CASN published the Guidelines for Nursing Education on Vector-Borne Diseases (“the Guidelines”) in 2019. The Guidelines delineate the key knowledge, skills and attitudes that all new registered nursing graduates should possess to care for individuals, families, communities and populations, at risk or being affected by climate-drive vector-borne diseases (VBDs). In 2021, CASN published the Nursing and Climate Driven Vector-Borne Disease e-resource (“the e-resource”) to facilitate and foster the integration of the health effects of climate change in nursing programs across Canada.

In 2023, CASN received additional funding from PHAC to carry out an initiative that would enhance and amplify the existing CASN resources by creating a series of five new virtual simulations and by revising the e-resource so that it contains updated information and best practices.

Mandate

The Climate Driven Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee inform and guide CASN on the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) funded project titled “Empowering the next generation of nurses to address climate-driven infectious diseases”. The Advisory Committee will assist CASN in meeting the project goal of ensuring that current and future nurses have the knowledge and capacity to reduce the risks and the effects of climate-driven vector-borne infectious diseases on the health of Canadians. This goal will be achieved by ensuring currency of the e-resource in a fast-changing landscape the creation of new, complimentary learning tools, and by amplifying the uptake of all the CASN vector-borne disease materials.

Terms of Reference

1. Working with CASN, the Advisory Committee will:
   • Provide guidance on the scenario plan for the 5 virtual simulations
   • Review and adopt the simulation content
   • Provide feedback on the companion guide for the simulations
   • Provide guidance and feedback on revisions to the Vector-Borne Disease Guidelines for Nursing Education
   • Review the existing VBD modules and share perspectives on opportunities for improvement
   • Share resources containing current best practices around VBDs and nursing practice that should be utilized in the creation of project deliverables
   • Assist CASN in dissemination and knowledge exchange activities
2. The Advisory Committee will be supported by CASN staff as appropriate.
3. Advisory Committee members are committed to respectful language and work environment and will act in good faith in a respectful and collegial manner including working cooperatively, honestly, with fairness and respect; and performing responsibilities with professionalism and behaving ethically.
4. Advisory Committee members will be invited to participate on one of the following working groups: 1. Simulation and Companion Guide Development or 2. E-Resource Revision.

Terms of Office and Membership

The Advisory Committee’s Term of Office will begin in July 2023 and conclude March 31, 2026.

The Advisory Committee membership will consist of include nurses in clinical practice and education, interprofessional experts on the health impacts of climate change. CASN will also ensure that diverse population groups are included in the Advisory Committee membership, as well as representations from many geographic regions of Canada and both French and English linguistic communities.

Organizations invited to sit on the Advisory Committee include, but are not limited to:

• Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association
• Canadian Nurses Association
• Community Health Nurses of Canada
• Infection and Prevention Control Canada - Ottawa Public Health
• The Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada
• Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment
• Canadian Black Nurses Alliance
• Canadian Coalition of Climate Environmental Justice
• CASN Planetary Health Interest Group
• CASN Community Health Interest Group

The Chair of the Advisory Committee will be approved by CASN’s Executive Director.

Meetings

The Advisory Committee will meet quarterly or as needed. Meetings will occur virtually over Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Approved by the Advisory Committee: January 11, 2024 

CASN working group on issues faced by Francophone schools of nursing (2023)

Chair: Marie-Soleil Hardy            

Board Liaison: Myriam Gauthier

Staff Liaison: Jodie Lachance

Mandate

Examine the problems and challenges that Francophone schools of nursing are currently facing and identify strategies to address these issues.

Terms of Reference

1. Examine the issue of raising the requirements for entry into the nursing profession, which currently represents a critical issue in Québec.
2. Come up with strategies to increase the number of CASN continuing education and professional development activities (courses, conferences, webinars, forums) offered in French.
3.  Identify strategies to foster the publication in French of CASN’s research on nursing education. 
4. Establish a collaborative relationship with the CEFIEC in France.
5. Increase the number of international articles published in French in CASN’s QANE-AFI journal.
6. Identify strategies to promote the dissemination of French research in nursing education. 

Membership

• Three members of the CASN Board of Directors representing Francophone schools of nursing.
• The Co-Editor in Chief of the QANE-AFI journal.
• CASN’s Executive Director.

Meetings

The working group will meet three times a year, or at the President’s request, for a 2-year period.

Support for meetings including drafting agendas, drafting minutes, keeping files up to date and communicating with the group as needed between meetings will be provided by CASN.

The President’s responsibilities include chairing the meetings (lead, structure and moderate discussions) and approving the minutes.

August 2023

Chair: Rani Srivastava and Janet Montague         

Board Liaison: Rani Srivastava

Staff Liaison: Andrea Harvey

CASN Anti-Racism Committee

3-year ad hoc Committee

Mandate

To promote the recommendations from the document Promoting Anti-Racism in Nursing Education in Canada.

Terms of Reference

1. Propose initiatives and activities that address racism in nursing education
2. Guide and contribute to CASN activities that promote anti-racism in nursing education
3. Assess uptake of recommended strategies in the CASN document Promoting Anti-Racism in Nursing Education in Canada

Membership and Term of Office

• Chair
• Two or three faculty members with expertise in anti-racism, equity, and social justice
• One representative from each of the following: CASN Social Justice and Anti-Racism Interest Group
  • CASN BIPOC Nurses Interest Group
  • Philippine Nurses Association of Canada
  • Canadian Nursing Students’ Association
  • Member of the CASN Board of Directors

Meetings

The Committee will meet:

• Virtually, two meetings a year
• At the call of the Chair

CASN will provide support for the Committee. 

Membership Expansion Advisory Group (currently on hold)

Chair: TBD

Board Liaison: TBD

Staff Liaison: Sheema Inayatulla

Updating Cultural Competence/ Cultural Safety document

Currently on hold

Chair: TBD                       

Board Liaison: Rani Srivistava

Staff Liaison: Jodie Lachance

Practical Nurse Program Membership

Title: Residency Program Healthcare Agency Partners

Mandate

To provide feedback to the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing on the Health Canada funded project entitled, “Canadian Research and Development of a National Nursing Residency Program”

Terms of Reference

1. To exchange information regarding the implementation, adjustments and improvements to the delivery of the Residency Program
2. To share observations and experiences regarding the impact of the Residency Program on staff and their organization
3. To exchange information and provide counsel on the research activities that are assessing the impact on the competence, transition stress and retention of registered nurses

Membership and Term of Office

The term of office for a partner is the duration of the Residency Program project (2022-2027). The membership will include:

1. 10 members from participating partners
2. Two co-chairs from within the 10 partners, selected by the participating partners
3. One representative from the CASN Board of Directors
4. Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
5. Project Manager, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
6. Project Coordinator, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing

Meetings

Meetings will be held virtually twice a year for the duration of the funded Residency Project (March, 2027) or at the call of the co-chairs.

CASN will provide support for the meetings and the work of the committee.

March 2023

Chair: TBD                       

Board Liaison: Marjolaine Héon

Staff Liaison: Jodie Lachance

Mandate

To provide guidance to the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing regarding the Health Canada funded project entitled, “Canadian Research Development of a National Nursing Residency Program”

Terms of Reference

1. To exchange ideas regarding the delivery of the Residency Program to provincial and territorial healthcare organizations
2. To provide suggestions on engaging with provincial and territorial healthcare organizations to promote CASN’s involvement in the retention of healthcare workers
3. To propose strategies that will provide stability and sustainability to the Residency Program

Membership and Term of Office

The term of office is the duration of the Nurse Residency Program project (2022-2027). The membership will include:

1. One representative from each province and territory
2. Chief Nursing Officer of Canada
3. Two co-chairs selected by the Advisory Group
4. One representative from the CASN Board of Directors
5. Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
6. Project Manager, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
7. Project Coordinator, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing

Meetings

Meetings will be held virtually twice a year for the duration of the funded Nurse Residency Project (2027) or at the call of the co-chairs.

CASN will provide support for the meetings and the work of the committee.

March 2023

Chair: Mona Sawhney and Heather Bensler                       

Board Liaison: Luigi Imbrogno

Staff Liaison: Roxanne Nizio, Sheema Inayatulla, and Jordan Potter

Canadian Nursing Education Conference Planning Committee

Terms of Reference

Mandate

The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) holds a Biennial Canadian Nursing Education Conference. The Conference Planning Committee collaborates with the CASN National Office to advise and make recommendations regarding the development of a plan for the Nursing Education Conference and contributes to its successful implementation.

Committee responsibilities:

• Attending and participating in conference planning meetings.
• Determine the main theme and sub-themes for the conference.
• Reviewing conference keynote speaker expressions of interest and selecting keynote speakers.
• Determining the program format and the types of sessions to be included in the call for abstracts.
• Promoting conference and abstract submission amongst their networks.
• Reviewing, revising (as needed), and approving the abstract review criteria and rating scale(s).
• Identifying and recruiting qualified abstract reviewers amongst their networks.
• Reviewing and grading abstracts.
• Reviewing the draft program template.
• If attending the conference, emceeing and/or moderating some sessions as needed.
• Attending moderator orientation session (if moderating).

CASN National office responsibilities:

• Providing administrative support for committee meetings, including creating an agenda (in collaboration with chair/co-chair) and taking minutes.
• Development of conference plans, operational/logistics activities and execution of the conference, based on Committee and past surveys feedback
• Ensuring that conference plans and activities are within the budget and resources available.
• Liaising, negotiating with and communicating with vendors for the conference (e.g. hotel, AV) and conference registrants.
• Sending formal invitations on behalf of the Executive Director to keynote speakers, Elder(s), and other presenters, and communicating with them regarding logistics.

Decision making method

Decisions will be based on criteria such as alignment with objectives, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, available resources, and potential impact. The committee will strive for consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, a majority vote will be used. Final approval is required by the Executive Director, who will ensure decisions align with CASN’s overall mission and vision, relevant policies and bylaws, along with an assessment of the impact on the CASN National Office’s financial, logistical and staff resources.

Membership

The Planning Committee will consist of individuals from CASN member schools as follows:

• 1 member representing the Atlantic region.
• 2 members representing the Western/Northwestern region (one member will be from a college, and one from a university where possible).
• 2 members representing the Ontario region (one member will be from a college, and one from a university where possible).
• 1 member representing the Quebec region.
• 1 member of the CASN Research and Scholarship Committee.
• 2 members representing nursing students (one undergraduate and one graduate).
• 1 member located in the city/town where the conference is taking place if none of the current committee members are from that city/town.
• 1 Board of Directors liaison member.
• The CASN President and Executive Director as ex-officio members.

The Committee will aim to include representatives with relevant experience who are from different academic institutions across Canada with a diversity of scholarly and lived experiences, such as those from across a diversity of gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, Indigenous identities, racialized identities, and disabilities and/or neurodivergences.

Specifically, and where possible through optional self-identification:

• At least two members of the committee will identify as a person who is Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour.
• At least one member of the committee will identify as 2SLGBTQIA+

Where appropriate, open calls for expressions of interest will be utilized to fill open positions to ensure a fair and equitable process.

Term of Office

The term of appointment is for two (2) consecutive conference cycles (planning and event itself), with terms staggered amongst committee members to ensure continuity. The following are exceptions where the appointment term will end earlier:

• Student members’ appointment ends after one conference cycle is complete unless they will continue to be a student until the completion of the second conference cycle.
• City/town member’s appointment ends after the conference takes place in their city/town (will participate for one conference cycle).
• Board member liaison’s appointment ends once they are no longer a board member.
• Research & Scholarship member’s appointment ends once they are no longer on the Research & Scholarship committee.

A chair or co-chairs are elected amongst the committee members for the duration of one (1) conference cycle, renewable for an additional conference cycle. 

Meetings

The Canadian Nursing Education Conference Planning Committee will meet:

• Virtually (usually four times per year)
• Additional meetings may be scheduled as required.
• Over 50% attendance is needed for quorum at meetings.

Other information

• Committee members will receive a complimentary registration for the conference.
• The Chair or co-chairs will also have their travel/accommodation costs paid by CASN if they are from out of town.

The terms of reference will be reviewed by the Committee at the start of a new conference planning cycle.

Adopted: Fall 2025

Chair: VACANT                

Board Liaison: Rani Srivastava   

Staff Liaison: Jessica Pearce Lamothe and Keith Beriault

Canadian Nurse Educator Institute (CNEI) Advisory Board

Mandate

The mandate of the Canadian Nurse Educator Institute (CNEI) is to develop and provide quality professional development opportunities for nurse educators in Canada. The CNEI cultivates excellence in nursing education in Canada.

Terms of Reference

1. Create quality professional development opportunities for nurse educators through CNEI offerings.
2. Advise on new and existing book publications.
3. Strengthen and promote excellence in professional development amongst CASN members.
4. Support the growth and development of the current and next generation of nurse educators.
5. Promote the art and science of nursing and nursing education.
6. Advocate and communicate on behalf of nurse educators in national policy decisions.
7. Acknowledge the contribution of expert nurse leaders in Canada through the CNEI Fellows program.
8. Provide a contextual understanding related to health systems and socio-political issues to guide CNEI offerings.
9. Collaborate with the CASN Board of Directors to advocate for nurse educators.

Membership

The CNEI Advisory Board consist of

• Two regional representatives from each of the four CASN regions (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, and Western-Northwestern)
• A community representative in a practice or policy role
• A CASN Board of Directors liaison
• The CASN President and Executive Director will be ex-officio members

The CNEI President will be selected from the above membership and approved by CASN’s Executive Director.

Term of Office and Time Commitment

This is a committee of the national office with a term of 2 years, renewable up to two times. The time commitment for Advisory Board members is approximately 4 hours per year. Committee members are asked to participate to the best of their ability.

Statement of Inclusivity

We recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences in advancing CASN’s mission and are committed to creating an inclusive culture of belonging. The CNEI Advisory Board will include and reflect the following:

• Nurse educators from universities, university colleges, polytechnic schools, and colleges in urban, rural, remote, and Northern settings from across all provinces and territories.
• Nurse educators from a variety of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. 
• Nurse educators across a spectrum of genders and sexual orientations.
• Indigenous nurses and nurse educators. 
• Nurses working in practice, research, or policy roles with experience relevant to the CNEI Advisory Board.

Meetings

The committee will meet virtually a minimum of twice per year, and at other times at the call of the CNEI President. Support for meetings and the work of the Advisory Board will be provided by a member of the CASN National Office staff.

The Advisory Board will provide reports to the CASN Board of Directors meetings. The reports will be drafted by CASN staff. 

Chair: Rotating – Helen Vandenburg until June 2025                      

Board Liaison: Myriam Gauthier

Staff Liaison: Jessica Pearce Lamothe and Jodie Lachance

National Student and Faculty Survey (NSFS) Advisory Committee

Mandate

The National Student and Faculty Survey (NSFS) Advisory Committee was created to provide expert oversight and methodological guidance to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of CASN’s annual national survey of students and faculty in nursing. The committee will complete a biennial review of the survey questionnaire, data collection methods, quality controls, and data analysis, and it will recommend revisions as needed. It will guide CASN staff on best practices in survey methodology to ensure that the NSFS is conducted in an ethically and methodologically sound manner. The NSFS Advisory Committee functions within established CASN policies and guidelines. The committee reports to the CASN Board of Directors.

Terms of Reference

• Review current survey questions and methodology for adherence to best practices every two years
• Advise CASN staff on required changes to the survey and methodology as needed
• Provide expertise on data collection and analysis for large-scale surveys

Membership

The NSFS Advisory Committee consists of

• One member from the CASN Board of Directors (liaison)
• One regional representative from each of the four CASN regions (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, and Western-Northwestern) with methodological expertise in national surveys
• The Executive Director is a non-voting member of the committee
• The chair of the NSFS Advisory Committee will be nominated and elected from within the membership of the committee.  Each committee member is entitled to one vote.

Term of Office and Time Commitment

This is a committee of the national office with a term of 2-3 years, renewable up to two times. The time commitment for committee members is approximately 8-10 hours per year. Committee members are asked to participate to the best of their ability.

Statement of Inclusivity

We recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences in advancing CASN’s mission and are committed to creating an inclusive culture of belonging. The committee will include and reflect the following:

• Nurse educators from universities, university colleges, polytechnic schools, and colleges in urban, rural, remote, and Northern settings from across all provinces and territories.
• Nurse educators from a variety of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. 
• Nurse educators across a spectrum of genders and sexual orientations.
• Indigenous nurses and nurse educators. 
• Nurses working in practice, research, or policy roles with experience relevant to this Committee.

Meetings

The NSFS Advisory Committee will meet virtually twice annually: in December before the release of the survey in January; and in September before the data is analysed and the report is published in the fall.

Adopted November 2024

Chair: Jacinthe Pepin and Susan Duncan              

Board Liaison: Executive Director

Staff Liaison: Jessica Pearce Lamothe and Arin Klein

Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avancées en formation infirmière 

QANE-AFI Editorial Board Terms of Reference

Mandate

The QANE-AFI Editorial Board supports the Co-Editors-in-Chief in ensuring that the journal remains reputable, relevant, and of high academic standard. The Editorial Board meets at least once annually to complete a review of the journal’s activities during the year.

Terms of Reference

The QANE-AFI Editorial Board:

• provides input on editorial needs and the annual editorial plan and work with the Co-Editors-in-Chief to achieve it
• assists in identifying peer reviewers and in mentoring and supporting their capacity for quality reviews
• participates in determining and in reviewing guidelines and policies
• participates in ensuring and in evaluating the quality and effectiveness of the journal
• attracts high-quality submissions to the journal
• completes reviews
• recommends a thematic focus for special editions and the corresponding guest editors
• advocates for the value-added contributions of the journal to the advancement of nursing education and CASN’s mission

Membership

Following a call for expressions of interest, members are nominated by the Co-Editors-in-Chief and appointed by the Editorial Board. The Editorial Board consists of eight members with the following representation, including two fluently bilingual (English and French) members:

• the CASN Executive Director
• one regional representative from each of the four CASN regions (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, and Western–Northwestern)
• one English-speaking international member
• one French-speaking international member
• one Indigenous academic nurse leader member

Editorial Board members are required to:

• have an established record of publication and scholarship
• have demonstrated scholarly expertise related to quality in nursing education
• be an experienced peer reviewer
• commit to attending meetings and to contributing to the success of the journal

Term of Office and Time Commitment

Editorial Board members serve for a term of 3 years, renewable once, and staggered for continuity. The time commitment for committee members is approximately 10 to 15 hours per year. Editorial Board members are asked to participate to the best of their ability.

Statement of Inclusivity

We recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences in advancing CASN’s mission and are committed to creating an inclusive culture of belonging. The Editorial Board of this scientific journal will aim to include representatives with relevant experience who are from different academic institutions across Canada with a diversity of lived and scholarly experiences, such as those from a variety of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds, those with disabilities and neurodivergence, and those from across a spectrum of genders and sexual orientations.

Meetings

The Editorial Board meets virtually once each year in December.

CASN Canadian Nurse Educator Interest Groups

Mandate

The CASN Canadian Nurse Educator Interest Groups were created to help CASN achieve its strategic priority of promoting education and scholarship. The Interest Groups provide a forum for the national exchange of ideas and information, serve to build research and scholarship capacity, and support quality promotion of a specific area of nursing education.

Terms of Reference

Members will participate in national discussion, in order to

• strengthen the voice of nurse educators and build a specialty-/interest-focused base among nurse educators;
• participate in a forum for knowledge translation and idea exchange to raise awareness and call attention to practice issues, current trends, evolving challenges, successes, and key milestones, in the area of interest;
• share resources and tools pertaining to the specific area of interest;
• foster capacity among faculty in Canadian schools of nursing in the specialty/interest area, by participating in on-going relevant conversations, offering webinars, presentations and talks on topics of interest; and
• explore potential collaborations, such as joint initiatives, research projects, and publications.

Membership

Each Interest Group will have a renewable one-year membership.

• The Interest Group must have a minimum of 10 members.
• The Chair will be elected from within by the group members, and serve for a two-year term, renewable once (for a total of 4 years).
• A Secretary will also be elected from within for a one-year term (renewable), to provide the service of record keeping (e.g., minute-taking) and to complete tasks as required by the group.

Meetings & Activities

The Interest Groups will meet four times annually by teleconference.

Members may also select one or more key issues where concerted group action may be valuable, and undertake any of the following activities:

Each Interest Group will have a renewable one-year membership.

• Share information and practices in a key area within the group;
• Create a newsletter (published once a year by CASN through online newsletter platform; highlighted in CASN’s Newsletters) to heighten visibility, celebrate successes, and advance knowledge around key areas;
• Plan a webinar (or series of webinars) to deepen understanding of critical issues and engage in national discussions on hot topics;
• Prepare for a conference;
• Collaborate on a joint project or publication.

In order to advance these activities, interest group meetings may be organized as follows:

• Meeting #1: Knowledge exchange and resource sharing: identification and discussion of cross-cutting regional and national issues (early fall)
• Meeting #2: Newsletter development: report on key issues, hot topics, new/upcoming research, champion nurses in the field (late fall)
• Meeting #3: Webinar planning: identify topics of interest, possible presenters (winter)
• Meeting #4: Wrap up and directions for next year (late winter/early spring)

While meetings will be organized by CASN, Interest Group members will be responsible for advancing activities, running meetings, and identifying agenda items and content.

Any publication, use of the CASN name (including reference to the name of any CASN Interest Group) by the Interest Group must be submitted to CASN for review and approval. Please send any queries or materials to inquire@casn.ca.

Publications must also include the following disclaimer:

***The views and opinions expressed by the members of the Nurse Educators Interest Groups (CASN) do not necessarily reflect the views of the CASN.

Adopted March 22, 2018