This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth study of ethics and law as applied within health and health care systems. Students explore legal terminology, reasoning and processes and the basic principles of law that apply to and govern the delivery of health care services and nursing practice in context of inter-sectoral care. Building off of previous BScN courses, students are engaged to explore ethical theories and principles in relation to understanding and addressing ethical issues in nursing from a professional, interdisciplinary, and structural (organizational ethics and socio-political-economic) perspective.
Prerequisites
NURS 3252, NURS 3263, NURS 3264, NURS 3370.
Missing prerequisites?
Learn more about VCC's academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
What you will learn
- Classical and contemporary ethical theories, ethical principles, world views and ethics
Indigenous perspectives on ethics
Canadian legal system: natural justice/procedural justice; due process and rule of law; case law; statutes and regulations; legislative process; Constitution of Canada; Charter of Rights and Freedoms; court system; basis of contract and tort law
Indigenous perspectives on law
Resources for guiding ethical practice: codes of ethics; ethical decision-making frameworks; interdisciplinary practice; moral communities of practice
Contextual factors that affect ethical nursing practice
Nurses’ legal accountabilities: professional competence, misconduct, malpractice
Patients’ rights and patient care, including statutory duties, contractual duties and tort duties, in particular a discussion of negligence, direct, vicarious and corporate liability, medical products liability, risk management and quality assurance as well as insurance
Public health/population health promotion ethics
Legal context of health care systems: The legal relationship between patients/clients and the health care institutions caring for them as well as the governmental agencies involved
How to register
This course is offered as part of a VCC program only.
Course schedules
Select your program to see the available course schedules.
| CRN# | Duration | Delivery | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42408 |
February 25, 2026 to June 10, 2026 |
Lecture | VCC Broadway Building B | See full schedule |
Online courses listed without scheduled meeting times can be completed on your own schedule.
Contact us
If you have any question, please email at advising@vcc.ca.
† This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.