How Sinai Health is advancing and leading fundamental, compassionate nursing care

Fundamental care is defined as actions on the part of a nurse that respects and focuses on a person’s essential physical, psychosocial and relational needs. These needs are met by developing a trusting relationship with the person being cared for as well as their caregivers. Nurses at Sinai Health embody this like-minded approach with the priority of improving the quality of life, outcomes and experiences for their patients through providing compassionate care.

Embedding the fundamentals of nursing care into daily practice is what’s really important to Dr. Lianne Jeffs, Chief Scientific Officer of Science of Care Institute, Research and Innovation Lead and Senior Clinician Scientist with the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI) at Sinai Health. Through her work leading the Institute and Centre for Nursing Excellence, the idea of fundamental care has been a major component in shaping Sinai Health’s focus on advancing compassionate care. 

A key piece of this work is the Leadership and Mentorship Program (LAMP) framework, which strengthens fundamental care practices across teams. By using a shared learning approach including like-minded partnerships, Sinai Health continues to focus on person-centred care in practice. Dr. Jeffs is leading an international study funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research which evaluates the impact and implementation of LAMP that is showing promising signs of embedding fundamental care into daily practice.

Part of our commitment to ensuring fundamental, compassionate care is core to daily practice is Sinai Health’s involvement with the International Learning Collaborative (ILC), a global network of nurses and other healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, and leaders. This collaborative is focused on improving fundamentals of care to ensure person-centered, high-quality care globally. As a founding member and the only organization member from Canada, this puts Sinai Health ahead of the curve. 

“When nurses are empowered with the competencies, tools, and support to lead this work, they don’t just enhance care, they redefine and reinvent it. That’s the driving force behind continued research, innovation, and education in this space. We are leveraging the LAMP framework to further strengthen fundamental, compassionate care practices across our teams” Dr. Jeffs mentions.

Through this work with the ILC, Sinai Health is the only research and innovation institute in Canada committed to improving health outcomes by focusing on fundamental care. Our nursing teams continue to strive for excellence by building on a strong foundation of research, driving discovery and delivering life-changing, deeply human care locally and globally. This is made possible through the foundation of the Institute and Centre for Nursing Excellence.

“Nursing education is the foundation everything else is built on. When nurses are equipped with the latest evidence and research, they have confidence to apply it at the bedside. Patients can truly feel the difference in their care experience” says Dr. Jeffs.

Launched in 2022, the Institute is the only research and innovation institute in Canada dedicated to improving health outcomes and experiences through a focus on fundamental, compassionate care. These improvements keep a focus on the need for ongoing learning and education to how best to meet the fundamental care needs of patients. 

The Institute and Centre for Nursing Excellence was invited to join as the first North and South America International Learning Collaborative Affiliated Research Centre in November 2025. This affiliation is testament to our ongoing commitment to value, prioritize, and include person-centred fundamental care in practice locally and globally, through education, research, advocacy, and policy.

This commitment to excellence is also reflected in nursing recognition at Mount Sinai Hospital, which has achieved Magnet® Recognition twice and is currently seeking redesignation for the third time. As the first and only hospital in Canada to receive this designation, Mount Sinai is recognized for exceptional patient outcomes, strong nursing leadership and a culture where nurses are empowered to lead change.

Sinai Health continues to excel in all aspects of nursing, setting a high standard for high-quality health care. From creating and mobilizing new discoveries, mentorship to innovation, our nurses are driving meaningful change that is backed by strong research, thought leadership and a commitment to advancing the science behind fundamental, compassionate care.