Public Health Nursing - Island Health

Providing Public Health Nursing to those living in the Campbell River and area – South to Oyster River; North to Sayward; West to Strathcona Park; Quadra, Cortes and Read Islands.

Our program services are offered by experienced and caring public health nurses who will work in partnership with clients. Our nurses are available by phone or in-person at the Campbell River Health Unit. 

Programs and Services

• Perinatal Programs
  • Right from the Start – Public Health nurses offer support for pregnant women and new moms, their babies, children, and families. Nurses guide clients as they navigate potential challenges with their physical and mental health, breastfeeding, and adapting to the joys and challenges of parenting.
  • The Nurse – Family Partnership Program – NFP is a home visitation program for pregnant women under 25 years of age who are having their first live birth.  It begins in pregnancy and continues until the child is 2 years of age.  The focus is to improve pregnancy outcomes, child health & development & parental life-course.
  • The Olive Branch – The Olive branch is a one-on-one Public Health Nursing support for women experiencing prenatal and postpartum depression, anxiety and adjustment challenges.  The focus is on building skills and setting goals that support women to regain a sense of well being.
  • BC Early Hearing Program – Public Health Nurses screen all babies for hearing in the first few weeks of life. 
• Parenting support – Public Health Nurses connect with parents to share information on topics such as safety, normal growth and development, breastfeeding, infant and child nutrition, and parenting.  Nurses offer developmental screening and referrals to other agencies or services as needed.

• Comprehensive School Health – Public Health Nurses support schools to adopt a Comprehensive School Health approach to addressing the health needs of our school population.

• Immunizations – Public Health Nurses provide provincially funded immunizations for infants, school age children, and adults.

• Kindergarten vision and hearing screening – Kindergarten children at all schools in our district are offered hearing and vision screening.  Three year old vision screening is also available upon request of parents.

• Communicable Disease – Public Health Nurses offer information and follow-up of communicable diseases.

• Nursing Support Services (NSS) - Assists parents and caregivers to help children with special health care needs lead active healthy lives in their communities, while facilitating safe, consistent care and appropriate health supports.  This program is available to British Columbia's children and youth, from birth to 19 yrs old, who require specialized nursing services. 

• Youth Clinic Services – Free confidential drop-in services for youth.  Clients can connect with a nurse in a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment. Services include; pregnancy testing and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI), low cost birth control and/or ECP (emergency contraceptive pill), free condoms, referrals to other agencies such as mental health/counselling or medical specialists, and sexual health information sharing.  Foundry Campbell River.  John Howard Society of North Island – 140A 10th Avenue (250-286-0611)