Mental Health 4 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the context of care in the following areas: substance related and addictive disorders including the use of stimulants and benzodiazepines, opioids, alcohol, cannabis; feeding and eating disorders; sleep/wake disorders. The course content addresses care issues across the lifespan.
An interactive and case based approach is utilized to address mental health and addictions issues with an emphasis on critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. Clinical experts discuss advanced health assessment, differential diagnoses for the presenting problem, relevant pathophysiology, red flags and how to triage patients who may need a higher level of care, the relevant diagnostic approach and tests, selection of appropriate interventions and treatments, indications for consultation and referral, and strategies for communication and effective management in transitions of care.
This is the fourth course in a 4-course Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions 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 clients with mental health and/or addictions issues across the lifespan.
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 clients with mental health and addictions issues.
- Discuss key role and scope issues relevant to the NP role in mental health and addictions services.
- Demonstrate confidence to practice independently and collaboratively.
B. State the clinical care requirements and management for a wide variety of mental health and addictions issues in individuals across the lifespan, including the ability to:
- Conduct the appropriate advanced health assessment.
- Identify appropriate differential diagnoses for the presenting problem.
- Understand relevant pathophysiology.
- Recognize red flags and how to triage patients who may require a specialized and/or higher level of care.
- Identify appropriate diagnostic approach and tests.
- Select appropriate interventions and treatments and evaluation plan.
- Describe indications for necessary consultations and referral.
- Identify strategies for communication and effective management at transitions in care and for safe discharge.
Course Outline
| Time | Description | Faculty |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Sleep-Wake Disorders |
Jennifer Madore NP-PHC, MScN |
|
Week 2 |
Feeding and Eating Disorders |
Margaret Loughran MHScN NP-PHC |
|
Week 3 |
Overview of Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders |
Shahnawaz Ali, NP |
|
Week 4 |
Alcohol Use Disorders |
Shawn Dookie, BScN MPH NP-PHC |
|
Week 5 |
Cannabis Use Disorders |
Tara Leach PHC-NP MScN SANE-A TICT-CT |
|
Week 6 |
Stimulants and Benzodiazepine Use |
Shahnawaz Ali, NP |
|
Week 7 |
Opioid Use Disorders |
Katie Dunham, NP-PHC, Nurse Educator, META:PHI |
|
Week 8 |
Final Examination |
Course Format
Delivery Mode
This online course is offered through the University of Toronto Learning Portal – QUERCUS. Each week, participants will be expected to 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/examinations will provide opportunity to apply learnings and receive feedback. It is anticipated that participants can expect to allocate approximately 5 or more hours a week for completion of a module; and additional time for assignments.
Teaching Methods
Each week consists of a recorded lecture by expert clinician faculty. and who will be available for questions through discussion board during their module. Each module focuses on discussion of the appropriate health assessment, relevant differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, red flags, use of diagnostic tests and screening tools, selection of appropriate interventions and treatments, and indications for referral and/or consultation, and considerations in transitions in care/discharge. Additional clinical resources are provided such as clinical practice guidelines, relevant practice standards, and clinical tools for practice.
Mental Health 1 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: acute/crisis/emergent care considerations including the provision of virtual care; […]
Mental Health 2 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic […]
Mental Health 3 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: Trauma, personality disorders with a focus on borderline personality, […]
Faculty
Shahnawaz Ali
Nurse Practitioner, Canadian Mental Health Association Peel, RAAM Clinic
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
Shawn Dookie
Nurse Practitioner, St Joseph’s Care Group (Thunder Bay)
Medical Director, Elevate NWO
Lecturer, Lakehead University (PHCNP Program)
Katie Dunham
Nurse Educator, META:PHI
Tara Leach
Nurse Practitioner
Substance Use Concurrent Disorder Unit (SUCD)
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health
Jennifer Madore
Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Gateway Recovery Centre
Margaret Loughram
Nurse Practitioner, Regional Eating Disorders Program
Health Sciences North – Mental Health and Addictions Program
Registration Information
Fees
- Early Bird price (ends August 25, 2023)
- $845 + HST
- Regular price (starting August 26, 2023)
- $940 + HST
- U of T Nursing Alumni save 15%*
- $800 + HST
- U of T Nursing Adjunct and Status Faculty save 15%**
- $800 + HST
- NPAO Member save 15%***
- $800 + 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 August 25, 2023. 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 by September 25, 2023.
- *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.
Financial Assistance
OSAP for Micro-credentials
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.
OSAP for Micro-credentials is available for eligible students taking a ministry-approved micro-credential that is less than 12 weeks.
To be eligible for OSAP for Micro-credentials, a student must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected person; and, be a resident of Ontario.
Ontario residency requirements for the purposes of OSAP for Micro-credentials are consistent with Full-Time OSAP residency criteria.
Students may be ineligible for the following reasons:
- they do not meet the Ontario residency requirement
- their family income threshold is above the income threshold to qualify for funding (i.e., $80,000 for a family of one person; $100,000 for a family of two or more people)
- they are restricted from OSAP for Micro-credentials (e.g., have defaulted on a previous OSAP loan, they have a failed credit check on file, they have a bursary overpayment)
Step 1: Confirm that the University of Toronto micro-credential course you want to take is OSAP-approved.
Step 2: Log in to your OSAP account. If this is your first time applying, you will need to create an OSAP account.
Step 3: From the options listed, select and complete the OSAP for Micro-credentials Application. You can only receive OSAP for Micro-credentials funding for one course at a time.
Step 4: Once you have completed your application, you will receive communication through your OSAP account, which will guide you in completing a supplementary form on the Service Portal.
The form requires the following information:
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Name of Program
- Program Study Period – start and end dates
This must be completed by the end of the study period.
Step 5: Your division will confirm the information that you have submitted is correct and confirm your registration status.
Step 6: The University Registrar’s Office will update the OSAP for Micro-credentials Application with the information provided by both you and your division and process your confirmation of enrolment.
Step 7: If you have not already done so, enrol and pay for the micro-credential course you would like to take.
Note: you must be registered in an OSAP approved micro-credential program before OSAP funding will be issued/released.