Focus on Professional Practice Leadership
An innovative joint program preparing new and experienced nursing professionals for emerging disciplines in healthcare.
Current Canadian health care is undergoing reform and transformation. A new generation of nursing professionals is required to lead the way. Enter the new Trent University-Ontario Tech University Master of Nursing (MScN) in Professional Practice Leadership.
This innovative, new professional degree, offered online, is designed to prepare graduates to be professional practice leaders who will ensure and implement expert practice, facilitate professional development, and provide leadership within our dynamic health care system. Graduates of the program will be granted a Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) from Trent University in collaboration with Ontario Tech University, or an MScN from Ontario Tech University in collaboration with Trent University, depending on where they are enrolled.
Next Intake: May 2026
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN
Program Features/Highlights
- Professional master’s program offered online, providing flexibility for active professionals with high work demands.
- Emphasizes all aspects professional practice leadership including a full course on the emerging subject of healthcare informatics, contributing greatly to the future career success of graduates.
- Mentorship, interdisciplinary, and experiential learning opportunities through research, projects, and class assignments, as well as collaborations with partners and health care institutions, including Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Durham Public Health, Ontario Shores, and more.
- Dual admission steams: (A) for students with BScN and (B) diploma-prepared nurses with considerable experience in health care.
“As the face of health care changes, the way we educate nurses needs to change as well. This new master’s program will help nurses—new or experienced—hone their skills as leaders in the profession, specifically, by focusing on emerging topics in the sector. Our aim is to produce highly knowledgeable graduates who are able to not only adapt to the shifting landscape of health care but also shape its future.”
Kirsten Woodend, RN, PhD
Associate Professor, Trent/Fleming School of Nursing
Program Options
- Master of Science in Nursing (MScN; Professional Practice Leadership) degree
- Full or part-time studies
- 24 months of full-time study or 48 months of part-time study
- Spring semester intake
- Thesis-based option (5 credits)
- The thesis stream is for students who would like to engage in and learn more about research, as well as students with academic career aspirations (e.g. teaching, pursuing further graduate education)
- Project-based options (5 credits)
- Project stream students will develop projects with real-world impact supported by the identification of an onsite mentor who will assist with project guidance
View the MScN Program Admission Requirements
