Our Mission
The Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses (CAHN) is a national professional organization that supports and promotes hepatology nurses and health care professionals with an interest in the care of people who are at risk for or living with liver-related conditions. Our mission is to advance the science and practice of hepatology nursing in Canada through the promotion of clinical excellence and leadership, facilitation of knowledge sharing and networking opportunities, and through advocacy for equitable policies and practices that address the social and structural determinants of health.
Our Values
Caring Environments
We take a person-centred approach, recognizing that health is a human right and that people flourish under safe, inclusive, and caring conditions.
Clinical Excellence
We believe everyone at risk for or living with liver-related conditions should have access to quality clinical care from a specially trained hepatology nurse.
Collaboration
We are committed to sharing knowledge and working together to improve health outcomes at the individual, community, and population level.
Our Approach
Hepatology nursing takes a health equity approach, recognizing that racialized and marginalized groups experience a disproportionate burden of liver-related illness. We also recognize that to adequately prevent and treat liver-related illness, we must address the social and structural determinants of health.
Hepatology nurses practice in a wide range of settings including acute care, community and primary care, research, specialty care, private practice, Corrections and policymaking. Hepatology nurses work at the individual, community, and population level, delivering direct patient care and health-promoting programs, researching new therapeutics and evidence-based approaches to care, and advocating for health-promoting public policy.
The advancement of hepatology nursing requires evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. Hepatology nurses use research, theory and experiential knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to provide high-quality nursing care.
Hepatology nurses use their clinical expertise to conduct and collaborate on research that focuses on improving quality of care for patients at risk for or living with liver-related conditions.
Our Goals
In line with our Mission, Values and Approach, CAHN has established the following goals to guide our work:
S&C
Develop and maintain Standards & Competencies for Hepatology Nursing to promote clinical excellence.
Education
Promote and provide high-quality educational events and resources for the members.
Networking
Create opportunities for members to network and share knowledge.
Policies
Advocate for policies and practices that address the social and structural determinants of health and contribute to improved liver health within Canada.
Leadership
Support leadership development and research opportunities for members.
CAHN Events
2023 CAHNference
September 29-30 in Toronto.
CAHN’s Liver Health Education Conference The Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses annually hosts CAHNference, bringing together healthcare professionals, from coast to coast, to share leadership stories, clinical best practices, innovative research, and scientific developments impacting hepatology nurses, their patients, and associated healthcare disciplines. We extend a warm welcome to members, non-members, affiliates, and guests who wish to join us.
CDDW™-CLM 2024
It is our great pleasure to invite you to the Joint 2024 Canadian Digestive Diseases Week™ and Canadian Liver Meeting Conference, taking place March 1-3, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.
As was last year, the Conference will be another joint effort between the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, as well as their affiliates the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C, Canadian NASH Network, and Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses. Attendees will have full access to two distinct conferences – CDDW™ and CLM – as well as exceptional Symposia and programming such as the Gastroenterology Resident in Training Course and Research Topics program at the same time and under a single roof. We’re also so excited about the numerous opportunities for delegates from across the GI and hepatology communities to come together for shared networking and social events as part of the collaborative Conference.
Meet the team
CAHN is run by an amazing team of dedicated volunteers with the support of an Administrative Consultant. Volunteering for CAHN is a fun and rewarding way to make new connections and hone leadership skills in the field of hepatology nursing.
CAHN's 2022 Award Recipients
Kate Newcombe
Innovation and Inspiration
Sarah De Coutere
Innovation and Inspiration
Donna Zukowski
Distinguished Service
Stephanie Eiloart
Exceptional Contribution to the field of HepatologyInspiration
Sharon Bojarski
Lifetime Achievement
Standards and competencies
The Standards provide a comprehensive framework for the evaluation of professional ethical hepatology nursing practice. The competency documents describe core competencies specific to particular liver diseases/conditions. CAHN offers educational resources to help members achieve core competencies.
Partners & Affiliates
