Care of the Hospitalized Adult 3
This is the third course in a 4-course Certificate in Hospital & Acute Care for Nurse Practitioners. The certificate builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired through entry to practice education and the acquisition of entry-to-practice competencies. The certificate will equip Nurse Practitioners with the knowledge and tools to confidently assess and develop a treatment plan for the acutely ill adult patient, hospitalized with a broad range of conditions, and facilitate a foundation for advanced nursing care of the ill or critically ill patient.
This 8-week online course consists of 7 weeks of course material; and one week for final short answer exam. Participants will focus on the role of the nurse practitioner in acute care hospital settings in the context of managing acute presentations in the following clinical areas: neurology, diabetes, wound care, care of the hospitalized older adult, end of life care and MAID.
Prerequisites:
Currently registered as a Nurse Practitioner or a student in a nurse practitioner program.
Audience
Nurse Practitioners who wish to further develop their competency, knowledge, skill and clinical acumen in the care of clients with mental health and addictions issues. Course participants must hold current registration as a Nurse Practitioner in their jurisdiction or be a student in a nurse practitioner program.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of the 4-course certificate program, learners will be able to:
A. Articulate the role and competencies of a Nurse Practitioner working with hospitalized adult patients.
- Discuss key role and scope issues relevant to the NP role in hospitals.
- Identify accountabilities and necessary skills of NPs in the most responsible provider role.
- Demonstrate confidence to practice independently and collaboratively.
B. State the clinical care requirements and management for a wide variety of acute clinical conditions in adult hospitalized patients including the ability to:
- Conduct the appropriate advanced health assessment strategy.
- Identify appropriate differential diagnoses for the presenting problem.
- Recognize red flags and how to triage patients who may require a higher level of care and/or patients that are rapidly deteriorating.
- Identify appropriate diagnostics tests.
- Identify treatment strategies and an evaluation plan.
- Select appropriate technical interventions and treatments, and therapeutic devices.
- Describe indications for necessary consultations and referral.
- Identify strategies for communication at transitions in care and for safe discharge.
- Identify relevant priorities for secondary prevention.
Course Format
This course is a fully online asynchronous course through the University of Toronto Learning Portal – Quercus. Each week, participants will view e-learning modules, review required readings and resources, and actively engage with learning activities that will focus on application of learning. Learning activities and assignments will provide opportunity to apply learnings and receive feedback.
Participants can expect to allocate a minimum of 5-10 hours a week for completion of a weekly module and allocate additional time for assignments. The time spent on any one module will vary from student to student based on your learning needs and style of learning.
Each week will consist of a recorded lecture by faculty who are expert clinicians in their field. Faculty will be available for questions through discussion board during the scheduled week for the module.
Each module focuses on one or more health systems or clinical themes, discussion of the appropriate health assessment, relevant differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, red flags, diagnostics and diagnostic sensitivity/specificity, therapeutic plan of care, selection of appropriate technical interventions and treatments, and indications for referral and/or consultation, considerations in transitions in care/discharge, and relevant role and scope issues.
Additional clinical resources will be provided such as clinical practice guidelines, relevant practice standards, and clinical tools for practice.
Most weeks will include an application exercise such as a learning activity.
Care of the Hospitalized Adult 1
This is the first course in a four-course Certificate in Hospital & Acute Care for Nurse Practitioners. The certificate builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired through entry-to-practice education and the acquisition […]
Care of the Hospitalized Adult 2
This is the second course in a four-course Certificate in Hospital & Acute Care for Nurse Practitioners. The certificate builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired through entry-to-practice education and the acquisition […]
Care of the Hospitalized Adult 4
This is the fourth course in a four-course Certificate in Hospital & Acute Care for Nurse Practitioners. The certificate builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired through entry to practice education and […]
| Time | Description | Evaluative Components |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Neurology 1 Focus on headaches, seizures and neuroimaging indications. |
|
|
Week 2 |
Care of the Older Hospitalized Adult Focus on common hazards of hospitalized older adults including delirium, functional decline, medication side effects and other iatrogenic events. |
LIVE case-based learning activity |
|
Week 3 |
Glycemic Management in the Hospitalized Patient with Diabetes Focus on application of the Canadian Diabetes Association guidelines (2018) for the management of blood glucose (BG) monitoring, use of insulin and oral anti-diabetic agents and management of complications. |
Online learning activity |
|
Week 4 |
Neurology 2 Focus on stroke and neurological deterioration. |
Case study 1 due |
| Time | Evaluative Components | |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 5 |
Management of Acute Wounds Recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage acquired pressure injuries and surgical wounds |
LIVE case-based learning activity |
|
Week 6 |
End of Life Care Recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage patients presenting near the end of life. |
Case Study 2 due |
|
Week 7 |
Medical Assistance in Dying Recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage clients who are considering MAID. |
Discussion Board Reflection Exercise |
|
Week 8 |
Exam Week |
Short Answer Exam |
Course Director
Marnee Wilson
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Centre for Professional Development, University of Toronto
Professional Practice Leader for Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Practitioner, Cardiovascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital/Unity Health Toronto
Faculty
Sheila Deans-Buchans
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
Willi Kirenko
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Independent Consultant
Alina Mednikov
Nurse Practitioner Functional Neurosurgery and Neuromodulation/Surgical Epilepsy, University Health Network
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Darcia Paul
Nurse Practitioner, Functional Neurosurgery and Epilepsy Program
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Janeth Velandia
Nurse Practitioner Wound Care Program, Unity Health
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Camilla Wong
Geriatrician, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Registration Information
Fees
- Early Bird price (ends March 14, 2025)
- $870 + HST
- Regular price (starting March 15, 2025)
- $970 + HST
- U of T Nursing Alumni save 15%*
- $825 + HST
- U of T Nursing Adjunct and Status Faculty save 15%**
- $825 + HST
- NPAO Member save 15%***
- $825 + HST
Site Groups
A group discount rate of 15% is available for site groups of three or more people. To book please contact pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.
Please Note
- Refund Policy – To withdraw from a course, send a written request to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca by March 14, 2025. No refunds will be given after this date. All refunds are subject to an administrative fee of $100 + tax. Alternatively, a colleague may attend in your place. Please send your substitution request at least 3 days prior to the course to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.
- Registration Deadline: April 14, 2025.
- *U of T Nursing Alumni discount is available to participants who hold a BScN, MN, PMNP Diploma, MScN or PhD from the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
- **U of T Nursing Faculty discount is available to participants who hold a current (at time of registration) faculty position, an adjunct appointment or a status appointment to the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
- ***NPAO (Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario) members may register at the NPAO rate which is 15% off the regular rate. NOTE: All submissions will be checked and verified for current NPAO membership status using the registrant’s name.
- Applicable taxes (13% HST) will be added to the registration fees.
- Course Cancellation Policy – The Centre for Professional Development reserves the right to cancel courses due to circumstances. The decision to cancel a course is normally made 15 days prior to the course. If you are enrolled in a course which is subsequently cancelled, you may apply your fee to another course, or receive a full refund. The Centre is not responsible for any travel or other expenses incurred by you.