Glossary

The integration of concepts and perspectives from across different professions. The term is used to describe teams of people with education in varying fields. For example, social workers, dieticians, nurses and physicians. These teams are common in complex environments, such as health care.

The process of developing and maintaining effective interprofessional working relationships with learners, practitioners, patients/clients, families and communities to enable optimal health outcomes. Elements of collaboration include respect, trust, shared decision making, and partnerships.

An intersectional approach involves actively considering how multiple, interconnected factors influence a person’s health, well-being, and access to care. In nursing practice, this means recognizing and responding to the complex realities that affect clients' experiences, particularly those who face overlapping forms of oppression or marginalization. This approach supports more inclusive, equitable, and person-centered care.

Intersectoral collaboration is the joint action taken by health and other government sectors, as well as representatives from private, voluntary, and non-profit groups, to improve the health of populations. Intersectoral action takes different forms such as cooperative initiatives, alliances, coalitions or partnerships.

The provision of comprehensive health care services to clients by multiple members of the same profession who work collaboratively to deliver quality care within and across settings.

Activities undertaken by union members to express disagreement with their employer’s or government’s policies or laws. Such activities could include going on strike, work slowdowns, work-to-rule, picketing and other protest actions.

Includes respecting the rights of others, distributing resources fairly, and preserving and promoting the common good (the good of the community).

A mutually collaborative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve nursing practice , client outcomes and more effective health services and products to strengthen the health care system.

 A simulated setting where students acquire nursing skills and competencies. It includes simulation. Laboratory hours within a baccalaureate program may not exceed 20% of the hours of clinical practice.

A relational process in which an individual seeks to influence others towards a mutually desirable goal. It is not limited to formal leadership roles.

A person studying nursing at the baccalaureate or graduate level; a nurse new to the profession; an experienced nurse entering a new practice setting; a nurse new to practice in NB; or an experienced nurse entering a new health discipline.

The degree to which a client’s condition and care needs can be easily identified and the variability of their care requirements

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are self-regulated and work independently or in collaboration with other members of a health care team. LPNs assess clients and work in health promotion and illness prevention. They assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for clients. They work in a variety of practice settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, community health centres and doctors’ offices. LPNs are currently regulated in all 13 provinces and territories.

An indicator that must be fully met to receive an approved status.

(a) the administering by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner of a substance to a person, at their request, that causes their death; or (b) the prescribing or providing by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner of a substance to a person, at their request, so that they may self-administer the substance and in doing so cause their own death.

Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing; order communication; product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature; compounding; dispensing; distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use.

Client centered care optimizing safe, effective, and appropriate drug therapy provided in collaboration with clients and their health care teams. Medication management may include but is not limited to the following activities: administration, prescribing, dispensing, medication storage, inventory management, and disposal of medications.

A registered nurse who guides, counsels and/or teaches nurse learners (mentees) in their adjustment to new environments, roles and/or responsibilities.

Mentoring is a supportive and collaborative relationship in which a more experienced nurse (mentor) provides guidance, counsel, and teaching to a less experienced nurse, nursing student, or other healthcare professional to facilitate professional growth and development.

Process of reducing risk exposure and minimizing the likelihood of an incident.

In health care, the implicit and explicit values that drive health-care delivery and shape the workplaces in which care is delivered.

A workplace where values are made clear and are shared, where these values direct ethical action and where individuals feel safe to be heard. Coherence between publicly professed values and the lived reality is necessary for there to be a genuine moral community.

A patient safety incident that did not reach the patient and therefore no harm resulted.

An entry-level nursing education plan intended for admitting students and requiring preliminary approval status from CNNB prior to enrolling students.

A patient safety incident that reached the patient but no discernible harm resulted.

A not-for-profit organization independent from governmental organizations.

Interventions intended to improve the health or the well-being of individuals that do not involve the use of any drugs or medicine. They aim to prevent, treat, or cure health problems.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who have additional education and nursing experience. NPs are advanced practice nurses with graduate education, which enables them to: autonomously diagnose and treat illnesses; order and interpret tests; prescribe medications; and perform medical procedures. NPs are health-care professionals who treat the whole person, an approach that includes: addressing needs relating to a person’s physical and mental health; gathering medical history; focusing on how an illness affects a person’s life and family; offering ways for a person to lead a healthy life; and teaching persons how to manage chronic illness. NPs are also educators and researchers who can be consulted by other health-care team members.

A planned, time limited and goal-directed connection between a nurse and a client and their significant others, for the purpose of meeting the client’s health care needs. Regardless of the context or length of the interaction, the therapeutic nurse-client relationship protects the patient’s dignity, autonomy and privacy and allows for the development of trust and respect.

The terms nurse and registered nurse include registered nurses and/or nurses who are registered or licensed in extended roles, such as nurse practitioners.