Certificate Description
The certificate is for Nurse Practitioners, (and/or Nurse Practitioner Program students), and those in Advanced Practice and/or CNS roles who, as part of their routine practice, may be responsible for the care of adult clients with progressive and life-limiting illnesses. The practice setting may include acute care, long-term care, community, primary care or private practice. Palliative care is defined as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psycho-social and spiritual (World Health Organization 2018)”. Consistent with a palliative approach to care, the certificate aims to enhance the early identification, communication, assessment, clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making skills required to skillfully and accurately mange clients and their families throughout their illness trajectory. Along with the core knowledge and skills in palliative and end of life care, participants will have opportunity for self-reflection to enable authentic therapeutic relations and to effectively assist clients during highly complex and emotional life transitions.Audience
The certificate is for Nurse Practitioners, (and/or Nurse Practitioner Program students), and those in Advanced Practice and/or CNS roles who, as part of their routine practice, may be responsible for the care of adult clients with progressive and life-limiting illnesses. The practice setting may include acute care, long-term care, community, primary care or private practice. Course participants must hold current registration as a Nurse Practitioner in their province (or as a Registered Nurse enrolled in a Nurse Practitioner program; or working in an Advanced Practice Role)Certificate Criteria
Participants must successfully complete all 3 courses, normally over a 2-year period, to earn the Certificate in Palliative Care for Nurse Practitioners: Core Competencies for NP Practice. The 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
Courses
Learners may take the courses in any sequence and will earn a certificate by completing all three courses over a 2-year period.
Course 1: Integrating a Palliative Approach to Care and Essential Communication Skills for Nurse Practitioners
This course is a 6-week course delivered through the University of Toronto’s learning management system (Quercus). It is primarily self-paced; however participants are required to engage in discussions and submit activities/assignments within identified timelines (weekly). It is estimated that up to 8 hours of study per week is required for successful completion. The course will utilize a series of case scenarios to enhance learning and application.
Fall 2023
6 week course
Course 2: Complex Symptom Management in Palliative Care for Nurse Practitioners
This 6-week online course focuses on complex symptom management for clients with progressive disease. Participants will review health assessment including appropriate use of screening and diagnostics tools to gather information about clinical symptoms and disease progression.
Jan 23 – Feb 28, 2023
6 week course
Course 3: End of Life Care Management for Nurse Practitioners
This 6-week online course focuses on the practical application of theory and evidence for leading/managing effective and efficient clinical teams. Content will specifically address fiscal and operational needs of high functioning clinical teams.
April 24 – June 4, 2023
6 week course
Course Format
This certificate consists of 3 courses, each 6-weeks in duration and delivered through the University of Toronto’s learning management system (Quercus).
- Courses are primarily self-paced; however participants are required to engage in discussions and submit activities/assignments within identified timelines.
- Each course will host a LIVE (via Zoom) session for faculty & participants to engage with one another in a group discussion (alternative option is also available for this activity for those unable to attend).
- Participants can expect to allocate ~6 hours per week to complete the required components of the course. The time spent on any one module will vary from student to student based on your learning needs and style of learning.
- Each course utilizes a similar format and teaching methods. On a weekly basis, participants will view an e-learning module, read required readings, and actively engage with the course material by participating in various learning activities. The emphasis of learning activities and assignments is on the notion of application of theory to practice and critical reflection.
What Others Have Said
“Feel it should be key foundational learning for all NPs and RNs, within their initial training programs; helps to better orientate care, and care discussions with clients, and their families when faced with life limiting illnesses.”
“This course has really opened my eyes to the world of a palliative approach, and palliative care. Very well done”
“Excellent. Content, duration great, clinically relevant and easy to apply to everyday work”
“I appreciated that enthusiasm that all course faculty brought to the course and the material, and their support of the students. Thank you.”
“I found the Certificate in Palliative Care for Nurse Practitioners: Core Competencies for NP Practice to be challenging and has greatly improved my knowledge and understanding of NP practice in palliative care.”
Contact Us
Email: pd.nursing@utoronto.ca Website: bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/pd Phone: (416) 978-7688 Address: Centre for Professional Development
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto
155 College Street
Suite 130
Toronto, ON
Canada
M5T 1P8