Primary Care Upskilling Program for Registered Nurses

Build a Career in Primary Care

Trent University, in partnership with Queen’s University, is providing a Primary Care Upskilling Certificate program. 

The Primary Care Upskilling Program for RNs is a 12-week, competency-based educational offering designed to prepare post-licensure RNs to work to their full scope of practice in primary care settings across Ontario. 

70% of students who successfully complete this program will be eligible for priority admission and free tuition to the RN-Prescribing Program at University of Windsor.

Program Outcomes: 

1. Provide comprehensive, evidence-informed primary care across the lifespan
2. Manage common health conditions and support health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management within the RN scope of practice
3. Demonstrate culturally safe, equity-oriented, and trauma-informed practice
4. Collaborate effectively within intra- and interprofessional primary care teams
5. Exhibit professionalism, accountability and leadership in the contect of primary care practice
6. Integrate national primary care RN competencies into everyday practice, demonstrating the capacity to work to their full scope of practice

Course Details:

               Location: Virtual

               Program Length: 12 weeks

               Course Start Date: Anticipated start last week of February

               Delivery: Virtual - One hour synchronous session plus coursework

Modules:

1. Foundations of Primary Care Nursing
2. Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
3. Chronic Disease Management
4. Mental Health & Substance Use
5. Maternal & Reproductive Health
6. Pediatric Health
7. Episodic & Transitional Care
8. Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety
9. Rural and Remote Practice
10. Leadership, Quality Improvement & Evaluation
11. Interprofessional Collaboration & Communication
12. Capstone & Integration

Evaluation: 

Students must complete all course assessments and achieve a satisfactory grade on the capstone project (including satisfactory performance in the capstone virtual simulation) in order to receive the certificate.

How to Register: 

Register here

Fees: 

To encourage commitment and reduce attrition, students will be required to submit a refundable deposit of $500 upon enrollment. This deposit will be reimbursed upon successful completion of the program. Students who do not successfully complete the program or withdraw after the first two weeks of the course will not receive a deposit reimbursement.

Pre-requisites: 

Applicants must be Registered Nurses in good standing with the College of Nurses Ontario, with priority given to RNs working in primary care, who identify as Indigenous, and who practice in rural, remote, or Northern communities.

Conclusion: 

Participants in the Primary Care Upskilling Program for RNs will develop a comprehensive set of practical, evidence‑informed skills that enable them to work confidently to their full scope in primary care. Throughout the program, RNs build strong clinical assessment and chronic disease management skills, enhance their ability to deliver care across the lifespan, and strengthen competency in mental health, substance use, and trauma‑informed approaches. They also gain essential skills in culturally safe and context‑specific care, including Indigenous health and rural/remote practice. Further, learners will develop advanced abilities in interprofessional collaboration, communication, leadership, quality improvement, and nursing informatics. By applying clinical reasoning, simulation learning, and reflective practice throughout the program, participants graduate prepared to deliver high‑quality, patient‑centered primary care in diverse community settings.