The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), in partnership with SE Health, is proud to announce the development of a Public Health Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual, a foundational initiative designed to support culturally safe, community-driven public health services delivered by nurses working in First Nations communities across BC.
This project marks a significant milestone in FNHA's broader journey to transform health and wellness for First Nations people. Central to this transformation is the nursing workforce, one of FNHA's most vital arms in realizing its vision of “Healthy, Self-Determining and Vibrant BC First Nations Children, Families and Communities."
Why This Work Matters
Nurses practicing in First Nations communities serve in health settings, delivering both primary care and public health services. Their work is highly regulated and deeply rooted in community relationships.
Public health nursing, encompassing immunizations, health education, health protection, and emergency preparedness and response, is a cornerstone of population health. It plays a key role in closing the health equity gap between First Nations and other BC residents.
Delivering these services in a way that is culturally safe, trauma-aware, and informed by both evidence and First Nations wisdom requires more than clinical guidance. It demands a framework that reflects the realities of community-based practice, supports regulatory compliance, and centers First Nations knowledge systems.
A Collaborative Approach
To meet this need, FNHA, through the Office of the Chief Nursing and Allied Health Officer, has partnered with SE Health and First Nations communities to co-develop a manual that will guide public health nursing practice across the province.
SE Health was previously engaged by FNHA to co-design the Home Care Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual, which has since expanded to support a broader range of home-based care services across BC First Nations Communities. They were awarded with this project after winning a competitive Request for Proposal process. This work is shaped by a diverse task force of subject matter experts, including:
- Community Health Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses
- FNHA Regional teams
- Experts in communicable disease, population health, and public health
- Elders and Knowledge Keepers
Together, they are co-creating a resource that will define how public health services are planned, prepared, delivered, reported, and improved, ensuring that care is both culturally grounded and professionally sound.
What the Manual Will Do
The Public Health Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual will:
- Provide clear, consistent guidance for public health nursing practice in First Nations communities
- Support culturally safe, regulation-compliant service delivery
- Enable continuous improvement and innovation in community-based public health
- Foster dialogue and research about how government regulations and First Nations approaches to health and wellness interact and sometimes conflict
This manual will serve as a living document, evolving alongside community priorities, the public health landscape, and the growing body of Indigenous and Western knowledge. This initiative reflects a broader movement to reclaim and redefine public health in ways that honour First Nations self-determination, knowledge, and leadership. It is a model of what's possible when policy, practice, and partnership come together in service of community wellness.
By sharing this work, we hope to inspire dialogue, collaboration, and support across the health system, because building a better future for First Nations health is a shared responsibility.
Get Involved
If you are a nurse, health professional, or partner interested in contributing to this important work, we welcome your voice. To express interest in joining the task force of subject matter experts in any capacity, please contact cdc@fnha.ca.
