Certificate in Hospital & Acute Care for Nurse Practitioners

The Certificate in Hospital & Acute Care for Nurse Practitioners builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired through entry-to-practice education and the acquisition of entry-to-practice competencies. This certificate program 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, as well as facilitate a foundation for advanced nursing care of the ill or critically ill patient. This certificate program consists of four courses offered by distance education through the University of Toronto’s Learning Portal. Each course will be 8 weeks in length (including a final week for evaluation). Learners may take the courses in any sequence and will earn the certificate by completing all four courses over a 2-year period. An interactive and case-based approach will be utilized to review acute clinical problems with an emphasis on critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. Clinical experts will discuss the differential diagnoses, relevant pathophysiology, the identification of assessment findings, the relevant diagnostic approach, the therapeutic plan of care, and the red flags that require intervention or consultation.

Audience

Nurse Practitioners who wish to further develop their competency, knowledge, skill and clinical acumen in the care of acutely ill hospitalized adult patients. Course participants must hold current registration as a Nurse Practitioner in their province.

Certificate Criteria

Participants must successfully complete all 4 courses, normally over a 2-year period, to earn the Certificate in Hospital & Acute Care for Nurse Practitioners. A passing grade of 70% is set for each course. Courses offered by the Centre for Professional Development cannot be credited towards a degree program.

  • Participants may take individual courses without completing the full certificate
  • Courses may be taken in any order

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:

  1. Discuss key role and scope issues relevant to the NP role in hospitals.
  2. Demonstrate confidence to practice independently and collaboratively.
  3. Identify accountabilities and necessary skills of NPs in the most responsible provider role.

B. State the clinical care requirements and management for a wide variety of acute clinical conditions in adult hospitalized patients including the ability to:

  1. Conduct the appropriate advanced health assessment strategy.
  2. Identify appropriate differential diagnoses for the presenting problem.
  3. Recognize red flags and how to triage patients who may require a higher level of care and/or patients that are rapidly deteriorating.
  4. Identify appropriate diagnostics tests.
  5. Identify treatment strategies and an evaluation plan.
  6. Select appropriate technical interventions and treatments, and therapeutic devices.
  7. Describe indications for necessary consultations and referral.
  8. Identify strategies for communication at transitions in care and for safe discharge.
  9. Identify relevant priorities for secondary prevention.

Available Courses

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 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 […]

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 Format

This certificate consists of 4 courses, each 8-weeks in duration and delivered through the University of Toronto’s learning management system – Quercus.

Contact Us

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