Webinar series: The nurse’s role in sexual health, reproductive care and abortion care

The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN), as a partner of the University of British Columbia – Contraception and Abortion Research Team, delivered three webinars on abortion care in nursing education. The aim of these presentation was to support the use of the Entry-to-Practice Abortion Care Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing and Nurse Practitioner Education in Canada by nurse educators and to disseminate information and approaches on improving access to abortion care and removing barriers for under-served populations.

The webinars are available by clicking the menu below. The presentations are available in French and English. Relevant resource links provided by the presenters are shared below.

Production of this webinar series has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.

Webinar 1: The Nurse’s Role in Sexual Health, Reproductive Care and Abortion Care.

Registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) play an integral role in supporting access to abortion care. This presentation begins with a review of medical and surgical abortion, and an overview of barriers that impede access to abortion care in Canada. The presenters describe the nurses’ role in abortion care, including the provision of medication abortion, which is within the NP scope of practice. Strategies on the inclusion of abortion care in nursing education, including an example case study, are shared.

Suggested citation: Toste, A., & Larter, K. (2025). The nurse’s role in sexual health, reproductive care, and abortion care [Webinar]. Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

Resources:

Presenter Aja Toste, RN, MN, created a one-pager on abortion access among under-served populations.

Webinar 2: The Nurse’s Professional Responsibility in Providing Gender-Inclusive and Intersectional Affirming Abortion Care

This presentation explores gender inclusivity in abortion care through an intersectional lens. It begins with a review of key terminology and examines the cisnormative silos that persist in health care. Additionally, it addresses the transnormativity often present in reproductive care, and the informational and institutional erasure and barriers that occur in abortion care, highlighting the need for more inclusive and affirming practices for trans clients. Examples of what health care organizations can do to provide inclusive abortion care services to trans and non-binary clients are shared.

Suggested citation: Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. (2025). The nurse’s professional responsibility in providing gender-inclusive and intersectional affirming abortion care [Webinar]. Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

Webinar 3: The Nurse’s Role in Supporting Reproductive Justice with Indigenous Peoples

This presentation begins with a review of the concept of reproductive justice, a term coined by the organization Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice. This concept expands beyond the pro-choice framework to examine how systemic barriers and oppression impact access to reproductive health care, the right to choose to have or not have children, and parenting in safe environments. The control over Indigenous women’s bodies and violence against Indigenous women and girls in historical and present contexts are discussed. Strategies for nurses to use to decolonize in practice, support strengths-based approaches, and the importance of free, prior, informed, and continuing consent and cultural safety and cultural humility in reproductive care are presented.

Suggested citation: Native Youth Sexual Health Network. (2025). The nurse’s role in supporting reproductive justice with Indigenous Peoples [Webinar]. Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

Resources:

Webinar 1: The Nurse’s Role in Sexual Health, Reproductive Care and Abortion Care.

Webinar 2: The Nurse’s Professional Responsibility in Providing Gender-Inclusive and Intersectional Affirming Abortion Care

Webinar 3: The Nurse’s Role in Supporting Reproductive Justice with Indigenous Peoples

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