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.

Registration Now Open

Registration closes March 1st, 2024

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.

Other Courses in this Certificate Program

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 […]

Course Director

Marnee Wilson

Assistant Professor

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

Financial Assistance

OSAP Funding

The Ontario Student Assistance Program now offers funding for micro-credentials (short training programs offered by post-secondary institutions), including a number of courses offered by the Centre for Professional Development. This funding initiative is part of Ontario’s micro-credentials strategy, helping learners access more opportunities to train or upskill for in-demand jobs through loans and grants.

How to Apply for OSAP Funding

This course is OSAP approved (more approved courses are listed below, and you can also verify on the Micro-credentials Portal). To apply for financial assistance through OSAP you will need to establish an OSAP account. You must apply before the course completion date. Visit Ontario.ca/OSAP.

Once you have registered for an eligible OSAP Micro-credential program, the University Registrar’s Office requires a Micro-Credential Program information form to be completed to process your OSAP application. Please fill out the top section of the form and send it to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca to get assistance in completing the form.

For questions regarding the OSAP Micro-Credential funding, eligibility or application process, please contact UofT’s Enrolment Services directly at http://uoft.me/enrolment-services, or by phone at 416-978-2190 for assistance.

Contact Us

Centre for Professional Development
Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto
155 College Street, Suite 130
Toronto, ON, Canada
M5T 1P8