University of Alberta
Canadian Nursing Students' Association
What is The CNSA?
The Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) is the national voice of nursing students across Canada. Founded in 1971, the CNSA advocates for the social, political, and professional issues that matter most to nursing students, ensuring their voices are represented at the federal, provincial/territorial, and international levels.
With over 30,000 members, CNSA is one of the largest national student associations in the country. We are a bilingual and pan-Canadian organization, reflecting the diversity of nursing students and programs across Canada.
Our Mission
-
To advocate for the needs, rights, and interests of nursing students in Canada.
-
To promote leadership, education, research, and professional development.
-
To strengthen the nursing profession by empowering the next generation of nurses.
What We Do
Advocacy: Representing nursing students to government, regulatory bodies, and healthcare organizations.
Education & Networking: Hosting national and regional conferences, webinars, and forums where students can learn, collaborate, and connect.
Partnerships: Collaborating with national organizations such as the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), and the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).
Student Support: Providing opportunities for involvement, mentorship, and leadership development across Canada.
Atlantic Region
Ontario Region
Prairie Region
Quebec Region
Western Region
Regions of the CNSA
Registration link Hotel link
CNSA Committees
The CNSA committees are made of members of the Board of Directors and nursing students who express an interest (including UofA students). The current CNSA committees include:
-
Research committee
-
Board of Governance
-
Strategic Planning
Upcoming CNSA Events
-
National Nursing Student Week (November 17-23)
-
National Conference (January 28th-31st)
What to Expect in 2026
This year’s National Conference/National Assembly will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, January 28th-January 31st, 2026. Four days of learning, networking, and leadership.
-
Keynote speakers, workshops, and panel discussions.
-
A dynamic exhibitor hall with career and educational opportunities.
-
The CNSA National Assembly, where nursing students shape the Association’s direction.
-
Social events that highlight the local culture and build lifelong connections.
Membership Benefits
-
UWorld Discount - you can submit the request here.
-
Canadian Nurses Association, World Continuing Education Alliance & International Council of Nurses
-
Learning courses on a variety of healthcare topics including recognizing common mental health problems, the future of leadership in healthcare, errors, and palliative care. Each of the professional development courses is available online, at $9.95 for nursing students!
-
You will need to manually enter the promotional code “WCEASTUDENT” at checkout to get the discounted student price for each course.
-
Descriptions on how to access all courses are available here!
-
-
Interested in research or have something you want to share? Click here!
National Nursing Student Blog
The National Nursing Blog – Nursing Students’ Voices is a national platform created by the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) to celebrate and amplify the stories of nursing students across Canada. At the heart of nursing lies the power of human connection, and every student’s journey holds valuable lessons and insights. This blog invites students to share personal reflections on meaningful experiences that have shaped their understanding of nursing, patient care, and the healthcare system, whether in the classroom, on the clinical floor, or in everyday life. Through these shared stories, Nursing Students’ Voices fosters connection, reflection, and dialogue within the nursing community, highlighting the diversity, compassion, and resilience that define the future of the profession.
More About Us
CNSA Official Delegate - Joel Davidson
As the CNSA Official Delegate I am the primary representative for the U of A nursing students and vote on behalf of us at the regional and national conferences. My role is to promote CNSA events and partnerships to students and to relay any concerns people may have. Feel free to contact me by email at jddavids@ualberta.ca for any information about the CNSA and how you can get involved or if you are interested in attending the National Conference is Saskatoon in January 2026.
CNSA Associate Delegate - Rhoda Ghebregzi
As the Associate Delegate, I have a very similar role to that of the official delegate, in that I act as a resource for nursing students in regards to the CNSA, and step in as the official delegate (OD) when the OD is unavailable. You can reach out to me if you have any concerns that you would like me to address or advocate for related to your undergraduate nursing education, or for Canadian nursing students as a whole. I actively promote the CNSA at the University of Alberta, and try to share with you the interesting and useful resources that the CNSA has to offer including discounts, scholarships, and opportunities. Please feel free to contact me at alberta@cnsa.ca or rghebreg@ualberta.ca if you have any questions about the CNSA or the National Conference, how you can get involved at the chapter level, or if you have a topic or concern that you would like me to address with the CNSA.