Course Overview
Advance your nursing knowledge and skills to confidently work to your full scope of practice in primary care settings.
This fully online postgraduate upskilling program is designed for Registered Nurses (RNs) seeking to enhance their expertise in primary care. Through evidence-informed learning, participants will build competencies in health promotion, chronic disease management, mental health, reproductive and pediatric care, Indigenous health, and interprofessional collaboration. The program supports both nurses currently working in primary care and those preparing to transition into these roles.
Course Details
Format: Online
Duration: 12 Weeks
Start Date: January 18, 2027
Weekly Commitment: Approximately 3 hours per week
- 2 hours of asynchronous online learning
- 1 hour live online session (Tuesdays, 6:00 to 7:00 pm)
- Additional virtual support sessions available by appointment
- Recorded sessions available through Blackboard
Cost: Provincially funded for eligible participants
Credential Earned: Certificate of Completion
Course Instructor:
Suzanne Braithwaite, PhD, RN, CCHN(C)
Assistant Professor, Trent/Fleming School of Nursing
Registration
Ready to register?
Register your interest for the Winter 2027 cohort to receive updates about registration opening.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this program, participants will be able to:
- Apply advanced knowledge and competencies in primary care nursing.
- Deliver evidence-informed care across the lifespan.
- Support health promotion and chronic disease management.
- Apply culturally safe, trauma-informed, and equity-oriented approaches to care.
- Collaborate effectively within primary care teams.
- Integrate national primary care nursing competencies into practice.
- Work confidently to their full scope of practice in diverse community settings.
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Primary Care Nursing
Module 2: Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
Module 3: Chronic Disease Management
Module 4: Mental Health & Substance Use
Module 5: Maternal & Reproductive Health
Module 6: Pediatric Health
Module 7: Episodic & Transitional Care
Module 8: Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety
Module 9: Rural & Remote Practice
Module 10: Leadership, Quality Improvement & Evaluation
Module 11: Interprofessional Collaboration & Communication
Module 12: Capstone & Integration
Assessment Requirements
To earn the certificate, participants must successfully complete:
Course Assessments
- Complete all required learning activities and assignments.
- Participate in the virtual simulation experience.
- Successfully complete the capstone project.
Evaluation
- Assignments are assessed on a pass/fail basis.
- Students must achieve a satisfactory grade on all required assessments.
Certificate Requirements
Participants must complete all modules and successfully meet program assessment requirements to receive the Certificate of Completion.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
- Be practising or intending to practise in Ontario.
No prior primary care experience is required.
Priority consideration may be given to:
- RNs currently working in primary care.
- Indigenous RNs.
- RNs practising in rural, remote, or Northern communities.
Students Must Have
- Reliable internet access.
- Access to a computer for online learning activities.
- Ability to participate in live virtual sessions.
RN Prescribing Pathway
Graduates may choose to apply to a Registered Nurse Prescribing Program delivered by the University of Windsor.
Eligible graduates may qualify for tuition support, subject to program requirements and available funding.
Fees and Funding
Tuition for eligible registered nurses is covered through provincial funding during the program's funded period.
A refundable $500 deposit is required upon enrolment and will be refunded upon successful completion of the program.
Earn a Certificate
Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing advanced knowledge and skills in:
- Primary Care Nursing
- Chronic Disease Management
- Mental Health & Substance Use Care
- Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety
- Rural & Remote Nursing Practice
- Interprofessional Collaboration
- Leadership & Quality Improvement
The certificate can be included on resumes, professional portfolios, and continuing professional development records.
Contact Us
For questions about the Primary Care Nursing Upskilling Program or the application process, contact:
(705) 748-1011 ext. 6012