BC Nursing Workforce Research Network

PROJECT LEADS: Leah Lambert, Sandra Lauck,  Jagbir Kaur

FUNDING PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS: This project is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research Catalyst Grant and is being conducted in collaboration with the University of British Columbia School of Nursing.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research is to develop clear, actionable, and evidence-based policy to shape nursing workforce transformation and practice-ready policy recommendations to establish a provincial CNS strategy for PHSA and implementation roadmap for BC Cancer. We will accomplish this through 3 phases.

RESEARCH OUTPUTS:  Outputs from this research hold the potential to substantially impact policy, programs, and practices for CNSs at the provincial, national, and possibly international level.

• Lambert, L.K., & Lauck, S. B. (2025, January 31). Policy Recommendations for Optimizing the Clinical Nurse Specialist Workforce in British Columbia.
• Lambert, L.K., Lauck, S., Prodan-Bhalla, N., Kensall, S., Hare, K., Watson, B., Beck, S., Bryant-Lukosius, D., Havaei, F., Kaur, J., MacPhee, M., & Thorne, S. (2024). Policy Research Brief: Informing Policy to optimize the Clinical Nurse Specialist Workforce: Advancing the Quadruple Aim and Health Equity. Policy Brief Booklet: Policy Research for Health System Transformation. CIHR-Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (CIHR-IHSPR) and partners.
• Lambert, L. K., Lauck, S. B., Kaur, J., Kilgour, H. M., & Chiu, C. (2025, June 30). Situating the Clinical Nurse Specialist Role in British Columbia : An Environmental Scan to Inform Workforce Development and Policy Planning.
• The team presented study findings "Research-Driven Policy Recommendations to Optimize the CNS Role" at the Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada (CNS-C)/Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Virtual Webinar, Canada.

PROJECT LEADS: Leah Lambert, Sandra Lauck

FUNDING PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS: This project is funded by Michael Smith Health Research BC and is being conducted in collaboration with the University of British Columbia School of Nursing.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project is to accelerate the uptake and widespread dissemination of new evidence generated by the CNS workforce project. Phase-1 includes collaborative development of a practice-ready “BC CNS Workforce Toolkit” to facilitate the implementation of the policy recommendations. Phase 2 shall entail a series of implementation planning workshops, including sessions tailored for individual health authorities, CNS and other partners, culminating in a “BC CNS Workforce Summit” to collectively finalize and operationalize the translational activities. 

RESEARCH OUTPUTS:  Our final report from previous CNS workforce projects includes 6 policy recommendations that summarize pertinent findings, guiding principles and recommendations to optimize the CNS workforce in BC. 

• Lambert, L.K., & Lauck, S. B. (2025, January 31). Policy Recommendations for Optimizing the Clinical Nurse Specialist Workforce in British Columbia.
• Lambert, L.K., Lauck, S., Prodan-Bhalla, N., Kensall, S., Hare, K., Watson, B., Beck, S., Bryant-Lukosius, D., Havaei, F., Kaur, J., MacPhee, M., & Thorne, S. (2024). Policy Research Brief: Informing Policy to optimize the Clinical Nurse Specialist Workforce: Advancing the Quadruple Aim and Health Equity. Policy Brief Booklet: Policy Research for Health System Transformation. CIHR-Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (CIHR-IHSPR) and partners.
• Lambert, L. K., Lauck, S. B., Kaur, J., Kilgour, H. M., & Chiu, C. (2025, June 30). Situating the Clinical Nurse Specialist Role in British Columbia : An Environmental Scan to Inform Workforce Development and Policy Planning. 

Coming Soon

PROJECT LEADS: Leah Lambert, Dr. Farinaz Havaei

FUNDING PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS: Michael Smith Health Research BC, University of British Columbia School of Nursing 

OBJECTIVES: The British Columbia (BC) government is investing significantly towards the implementation of team-based care (TBC) within BC Cancer. Phased over two years, TBC implementation involves purposeful efforts towards - Establishing/expanding multidisciplinary care teams; optimizing scope of practice; and increasing team consistency.  We are evaluating the impact of the existing team-based care model within BC Cancer in a research study.  

RESEARCH OUTPUTS: The study team developed an evidence brief and infographic. 

• “Evidence Brief: Strengthening the Implementation & Optimization of Team-Based Cancer Care (TBC) in B.C."
• "Team-Based Care Staff Experience Survey Study Infographic"

PROJECT LEADS: Heather Kilgour, Leah Lambert, Ruby Gidda

FUNDING PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS: BC Nurses' Union (BCNU), Michael Smith Health Research BC part of the REACH program grant, and BC Cancer Foundation.

OBJECTIVES: Advanced Care Planning (ACP) is a process where patients reflect on what matters most to them and determine who may make decisions for them should they be unable to speak for themselves. The purpose of this study was to (1) Understand oncology nurses' experiences and perspectives related to AC; (2) Inform how to better support oncology nurses in engaging in meaningful ACP discussions across BC’s cancer care system; and (3) To rapidly mobilize recent nursing-led research conducted in BC to inform a nursing practice change that better support for oncology nurses in conducting Advanced Care Planning (ACP) across BC Cancer.

RESEARCH OUTPUTS: Created nurse-facing and patient-facing education materials (educational toolkit and resources, slide decks) and have updated the ACP related BC Cancer website pages.

• ACP Flyer: ACP Flyer to be given during first patient appointments. Introduces and normalizes ACP. Includes 4 reasons to talk to your healthcare team about ACP.
• Education Tool: To support ACP patient education, this is a 3-page resource that provides an overview of ACP. Includes defining advance care planning, substitute decision makers, and options for recording wishes such as advance directives or letters to family.
• ACP Healthcare provider webpage: BC Cancer has resources to support health care providers in discussing advance care planning with patients at different stages throughout their care.
• ACP for patients webpage: Tools to help patients with advance care planning process.
• Poster:  Co-Creating Care: Enhancing Advance Care Planning in Oncology Through Patient & Healthcare provider partnerships