Embedding fundamental care in the Canadian context: Insights from the leadership and mentoring program pilot study

Missed Fundamental Care (FC) is eroding the morale of nurses, resulting in burnout, human health resource (HHR) shortages, and poor patient outcomes and experiences. Effective nursing leadership is central to facilitating high-quality fundamental care delivery. In this context, the International Learning Collaborative (ILC) developed the Leadership and Mentoring Program (LAMP), underpinned by the internationally validated Fundamentals of Care (FoC) Framework. Aimed to evaluate the ILC LAMP Canada pilot, a mixed-methods evaluation was undertaken to explore the implementation of the program offered February 2025 - March 2026 including a program evaluation survey and qualitative data collected from open-ended responses of program evaluation; 6-month and 12-month post-intervention focus groups. Overall, the survey results showed promising signs of LAMP Canada participants increasing their understanding and preparing them to advocate for FC; as well as increased confidence and skills to speak out and advocate for FC, and enhanced abilities to lead improvements in FC. Four themes were identified: 1) sharing diverse voices in interactive collaboration conversations; 2) making the action plan come alive, staying on track, and having dedicated time; 3) taking time to socialize FC into culture, integrate into practice and embed into infrastructure; and 4) being in a holding pattern, scaling back, and struggling to hardwire. Challenges to implement or sustain efforts associated with action plans over the year-long program were experienced. Overall, LAMP is showing promising signs of preparing nurses to revalue and embed FC into organizations and daily nursing practice.