Professional Development

Cultural safety occurs when nurses engage in respectful engagement that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances that exist in all aspects of the health care system (Curtis et al., 2019). CNNB believes that creation of culturally safe environments is central to providing safe, ethical, and competent nursing care. Below are educational resources to support nurses in reflecting on and actively creating a plan for professional development related to the creation of a culturally safe practice environments.

Cultural Safety Toolkit (CNNB)

Indigenous Health (Canadian Nurses Association)

Department of Indigenous Affairs (GNB)

Indigenous Health (Horizon Health Network)

Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association

First Nations Health Authority(FNHA)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Take the Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada (CNA)

Canadian Medical Association

The toolkit linked below was created by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) to raise awareness about the inequities Indigenous peoples face, inspire compassion and drive conversations to close the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

• https://theunforgotten.cma.ca/education/

National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health

The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) develops and shares evidence-informed resources that supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis health and well-being. Its resources promote understanding of Indigenous health priorities, cultural safety, anti-Indigenous racism, and the impacts of colonialism on health outcomes.

Featured Resources:

• H.E.A.L. Healthcare: Anticolonial and arts-based learning resources that support reflection on bias and culturally safer healthcare practices.
• Resources and Publications: Reports, fact sheets, webinars, podcasts, and health equity.

National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health

The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH) develops evidence-informed resources that help health professionals understand and address the factors that contribute to health inequities. Resources support learning and action on health inequities, racism, intersectionality, community engagement, and the social determinants of health.

Featured Resources:

• Let’s Talk Series: Discussion resources that explore key health equity concepts and support reflection and action.
• Mind the Disruption Podcast: Conversation with leaders and practitioners exploring innovative approaches to advancing health equity and social justice.

Nurses are expected to incorporate the principles of trauma- and violence-informed care (TVIC) into their practice. TVIC includes creating emotionally, culturally, and physically safe services by understanding the experiences of trauma and their impacts on peoples’ lives and behaviours. It also accounts for the intersecting impacts of systemic and interpersonal violence and the structural inequities on a person’s life, emphasizing both historical and ongoing violence and their traumatic impacts. Key principles include: fostering trust by offering authentic choice, collaboration, and connection; providing strengths-based and capacity-building care to support clients; and creating environments where clients do not experience re-traumatization or harm.

The following external resources are intended to help nurses enhance their understanding of TVIC. These resources can also help nurses incorporate these principles into their practice setting.

• EQUIP Health care: Trauma- and Violence Informed Care- A tool for your practice and organization
• EQUIP Health care: Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care Foundations e-learning module
• Canadian Public Health Association: Trauma- and violence- informed care toolkit
• Government of Canada: Trauma and violence-informed approaches to policy and practice
• iHEAL

• Professional Practice (CNNB)
• Latest News and Events (CNNB)
• ​Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
• Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS)
• Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN)
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
• Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP)
• MDBriefCase
• The Centre for Professional Development 
• Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Nursing Education
• The Canadian Public Health Association Learning Site
• Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-term Care (SPA-LTC)
• New Brunswick Eating Disorder Training (NB-EDT)

Harm reduction is a pragmatic framework that aims to reduce the adverse health, social, and economic consequences of risky health behaviours or lifestyle choices (Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), 2018). Although harm reduction is most commonly associated with substance use, it also includes public health approaches to risky health behaviours, such as safer sexual practices, driving, gambling, and other activities (CNA, 2018). The key principles of harm reduction include respecting the rights of clients, committing to evidence-informed and socially just nursing practice, collaborating with clients, and avoiding stigma.

The following external resources provide foundational information on harm reduction.

Harm Reduction Fundamentals: A toolkit for service providers

Harm Reduction – Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

Ontario Harm Reduction Network: Courses and Webinars (Available in English only)

Learning Series: Harm Reduction Saves Lives (CNA)

Cannabis For Health Professionals: Cannabis Harm Reduction (NB Lung)

The MN program is designed to ensure that students acquire a thorough, integrated knowledge of nursing research, theory, and practice. The goal of the MN program is to prepare nurses for advanced practice and leadership in clinical, educational, administrative, and research roles.

For more information on the Master of Nursing program in New Brunswick, please contact the University of your choice directly.

• Université de Moncton
• University of New Brunswick

Specialty certification is a voluntary program that allows nurses to build on the solid foundation of the Canadian RN registration and the clinical experience gained in a specialty. Certification helps nurses stay current by testing their specialized knowledge and skills.

The CNA Certification Program offers certification in 22 nursing practice specialties. As of August 2026, 19 certification exams are offered.

For more information: CNA Certification Program