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 the acquisition of entry-to-practice competencies. The certificate will equip Nurse Practitioners with the knowledge and tools to confidently assess, diagnose 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 a 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: hematology (transfusion medicine and coagulation issues, sepsis, gastrointestinal (surgical issues), management of acute allergic reactions, rheumatology, issues related to mobility, nutrition and swallowing.

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 addiction 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. Display sound diagnostic reasoning skills by successfully developing a broad differential diagnosis & diagnostic and treatment plan for selected patient conditions.

C. 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.
  • Develop an appropriate differential diagnosis.
  • Recognize red flags and how to triage patients who may require a higher level of care and/or patients that are rapidly deteriorating.
  • Choose an appropriate diagnostic testing strategy.
  • Identify a treatment strategy and an evaluation plan.
  • Select appropriate technical interventions and treatments (if relevant).
  • Describe indications for necessary consultations and referral.
  • Identify accountabilities for communication at transitions in care and for safe discharge.
  • Communicate relevant priorities for secondary prevention.

Registration Now Open

Registration closes September 10th, 2024

Course Format

This course is a fully online asynchronous course taught 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 the 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 diagnosis, pathophysiology, red flags, diagnostics, therapeutic plan of care, selection of appropriate technical interventions and treatments, 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 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 […]

TimeEvaluative Components

Week 1

Transfusion Medicine

By the end of this module, participants will be able to recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage:

  • Patients requiring the transfusion of blood products including:
  • Basic of blood transfusion therapy (RBC, Platelets, Plasma and PCC, Fibrinogen replacement
  • Introduction to massive blood transfusion management

Week 2

Hematology, Coagulation, bleeding and HIT & Anticoagulation and VTE

By the end of this module, participants will be able to recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage:

  • Indications for anticoagulation
  • VTE prophylaxis and management
  • Patients who are bleeding on anticoagulation treatment

Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)

Live session (or alternate learning activity) on Hematology

Week 3

Shock

By the end of each module, participants will be able to:

  • identify the patient in shock and indications for critical care management.
  • Initiate and manage the first steps of care for a patient with shock (until transfer to Critical Care), including
  • Types of volume resuscitation

ACLS protocols

Week 4

The Surgical Abdomen

By the end of this module, participants will be able to recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage the patient with acute abdominal pain secondary to:

  • Mechanical or non-mechanical bowel obstruction and perforation
  • Pancreatitis
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Mesenteric Ischemia

Case Study #1

TimeEvaluative Components

Week 5

Acute Allergic Reactions

Recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage:

  • Patients presenting with acute allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis

Discussion Board post

Week 6

Acute Rheumatology

Recognize the clinical care requirements and successfully manage patients presenting with:

  • Joint Pain
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematous
  • Gout
  • Management of arthritis medications in the admitted patient

Live session (or alternate learning activity)

Case Study #2

Week 7

Nutrition, Mobility and Dysphagia

Recognize the clinical care requirements how to:

  • Identify appropriate strategies to mobilize acutely ill patients
  • Considerations for gait aids
  • Considerations for chest physiotherapy and early mobility
  • Making appropriate referrals to Physiotherapy
  • The nutritional requirements in the hospitalized patient
  • Malnutrition in hospitalized patients
  • Re-feeding syndrome
  • Oral diets
  • Artificial Nutrition: enteral/parenteral
  • Making appropriate referrals to a Dietician
  • Types and causes of dysphagia in a hospitalized patient
  • Identifying a patient with dysphagia
  • Managing dysphagia (e.g. altered textured diets)
  • Making an appropriate referral to a Speech Language Pathologist

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

William Fung

Adult Rheumatology & Internal Medicine

Gloria Lim

Staff Hematologist, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

Lucia Lorenzatti

Speech-Language Pathologist, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
Adjunct Lecturer, Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto

Mary Mustard

Nurse Practitioner, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Joanna Parkes

Physiotherapist, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
Lecturer, Physical Therapy, University of Toronto

Katerina Pavenski

St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

Christine Song

Program Director, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto.

Anthea Tonelli

Dietician, Heart, Lung and Vascular Program, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health

Eric Tseng

Staff Hematologist, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

Registration Information

Fees

$870 + HST
$970 + HST
$825 + HST
$825 + HST
$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 August 9, 2024.  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: September 9, 2024.
  • *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. 

Contact Us

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