Plan of Study

Full-time Emergency Nursing Program

The full-time program is designed for new graduates and new hires to the emergency department, and aimed at ensuring the nurse achieves the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to meet the program competencies. This plan of study is aligned with a transition to practice approach that will support the nurse in transferring program competencies into their emergency nursing practice. Interested candidates should discuss this with their emergency manager, as only those who have been approved by their emergency manager for sponsorship for this offering should register for the program.

The program includes:

Asynchronous learning: self-directed study online, assignments, quizzes, case study discussion
Synchronous learning: scheduled mandatory online labs, in-person skill labs and simulations sessions
Clinical learning in an emergency department setting

The time commitment to complete the program is approximately:

Knowledge: 280 hours
Skills: 40 hours
Performance: 168 hours
Full-time commitment is required

Timeline

This outline provides a general timeline for the program. The exact delivery model may vary by offering

Phase 1 (Weeks 1–3): Adult, Geriatric, and Pediatric care – Physical Assessment, Respiratory, and Cardiac systems; formative evaluation of skills and simulations
Phase 2 (Weeks 4-7): Adult, Geriatric, and Pediatric care – CTAS course, Shock, Neuro, Trauma, Musculoskeletal, Toxicology, GI/GU, Endocrine, and EENT; formative evaluation of skills and simulations.
Phase 3 (Weeks 8-10): Adult, Geriatric, and Pediatric care – Obstetrics; summative evaluation of skills and simulations; clinical shifts begin.
Phase 4 (Weeks 11-12): Clinical shifts
Phase 5 (Week 13): End of Program Transition to Practice

Learning Outcomes

The competencies (outcomes) the learner must achieve by the end of the program are organized under six competency areas:

Patient-centred care
Teamwork and collaboration
Evidence-informed practice
Quality improvement
Safety
Informatics

These competencies are used to assess the learner's knowledge, skill, and performance while in the program. Some of these behavioural indicators will be achieved upon completion of modules, assignments, and examinations, while others will be achieved in the clinical setting. As a learner in the program, you will be required to successfully demonstrate each of these competencies.

Part-time Emergency Nursing Program

The part-time program is designed for nurses with a minimum of two years experience working in the emergency department. This option requires ED manager sponsorship and support to ensure learner success, which would include time to participate in online learning activities/study, exam writing, skill labs and simulation sessions, and transition of knowledge during clinical practicum. Travel to a regional ED for clinical practicum may be required.