This sub-theme centres on the urgent and ongoing responsibility of nursing education to respond meaningfully to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. It emphasizes the need for deep, systemic change through the processes of Indigenization, decolonization, and the unlearning of colonial practices within curricula, pedagogy, and institutional culture. Vital to this work is the principle of accountability not only to Indigenous communities, but also to students, educators, and the broader health care system. This sub-theme invites critical reflection on how nursing programs can move beyond symbolic gestures to implement tangible, measurable actions that honour Indigenous knowledge ways of knowing, support Indigenous learners, and foster cultural safety. It also explores how nursing educators enact their commitments, ensuring that reconciliation is not a passive ideal but an active, lived practice.

This sub-theme challenges nursing education to move beyond aspirational statements and toward meaningful, sustained action in advancing social justice, anti-racism, and anti-oppression. It calls for a critical examination of how these principles are operationalized in curricula, institutional policies, faculty development, and student support systems. The focus is on transforming good intentions into praxis such as intentional, reflective, and justice-oriented practices that dismantle systemic barriers and foster inclusive learning environments. This sub-theme invites dialogue on strategies for embedding social justice, anti-racism, and anti-oppressive frameworks into all aspects of nursing education, ensuring that future nurses are equipped to provide culturally safe, equitable care and to advocate for social justice within and beyond the health care system.

This sub-theme explores how nursing education can promote system change by equipping nurses with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead transformative efforts in health care and beyond. It emphasizes the integration of advocacy, policy reform, and political engagement into curricula to prepare nurses as proactive change makers. By fostering critical thinking, civic responsibility, and leadership, this approach empowers nurses to challenge inequities, influence policy, and drive meaningful improvements in health systems and social structures.

Accessible nursing education is essential for cultivating a diverse and resilient health care workforce. This sub-theme focuses on strategies to better support neurodiverse/non-typical learners through intentional and equitable educational practices. It highlights the critical role of educators in creating accessible, supportive learning environments for both in class and clinical experiences that recognize and accommodate diverse needs. By fostering inclusive teaching models and building strong support networks, nursing programs can empower neurodiverse/non-typical students to thrive, ultimately contributing to a more representative and responsive health care system.

Accessible nursing education is essential for building health human resources capacity in rural/remote communities. This sub-theme focuses on strategies to better support learners from rural/remote communities through intentional and equitable educational practices. It highlights the critical role of educators in exploring innovative pedagogical approaches to deliver nursing programs without jeopardizing quality of education. By fostering accessible and supportive “de-centralized” learning environments, nursing programs enable students to thrive regardless of geographic location, remain in their communities, and ultimately contribute to a more representative and responsive health care system.

As the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation intensify, nurses are increasingly called upon to play a pivotal role in promoting planetary health and supporting community resilience. This sub-theme explores how nursing education can prepare future nurses to understand and respond to the complex interconnections between human health, ecological systems, and global crises. It emphasizes the integration of climate science, environmental justice, and disaster preparedness into nursing curricula, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to lead in emergency response, advocate for sustainable practices, and support vulnerable populations during environmental and public health emergencies.

In a period marked by rapid change, global crises, and evolving healthcare demands, transformative leadership in nursing education has never been more critical. This sub-theme explores how nurse educators and administrators can lead with vision, adaptability, and resilience to foster learning environments that thrive amid uncertainty. It emphasizes the importance of innovative pedagogies, inclusive decision-making, and responsive leadership strategies that support both faculty and students through disruption and transition. By cultivating leadership that is reflective, equity-driven, and future-focused, nursing education can not only withstand challenges but also emerge stronger, shaping a generation of nurses prepared to lead with courage and compassion in a complex world.

The rapid evolution of technology is reshaping the landscape of nursing education, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance teaching, learning, and clinical practice as well as significant challenges. This sub-theme explores the integration of emerging innovations, including simulation, virtual and augmented reality, digital learning platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) into nursing curricula. It highlights how these tools can support personalized learning, improve clinical decision-making, and expand access to education. At the same time, it invites critical reflection on the ethical, pedagogical, and practical implications of technology use in nursing education. By embracing innovation while maintaining a human-centered approach, nursing education can prepare future nurses to thrive in a digitally advanced and data-driven health care environment.

Community and public health are foundational to achieving health equity and improving population outcomes. This sub-theme emphasizes the critical role of nursing education in preparing nurses to lead and advocate within community and public health settings. It explores how nursing curricula centres the social determinants of health, health promotion, disease prevention, and culturally responsive care while equipping nursing students to counter misinformation and mistrust of the public health system. By integrating community-based learning, interprofessional collaboration, and public health frameworks, nursing programs can empower students to address complex health challenges at the population level.

This option provides space for innovative, interdisciplinary, or alternative abstracts that align with the overarching theme but do not clearly fit within a sub-theme. We welcome emerging ideas, approaches, and unique perspectives that contribute to the advancement of nursing education.