Confederation College to Launch Registered Nurse-Prescribing Program
Posted:
(THUNDER BAY, ON – December 21, 2023) – Confederation College has announced the introduction of a new training program for Registered Nurses (RNs) that will enable them to prescribe certain medications. This development comes in the wake of the Ontario government's decision to permit RNs to prescribe medications for specific conditions such as contraception, immunizations, smoking cessation, and topical wound care in diverse settings, including long-term care and retirement homes.
Confederation College will be delivering the new training for Registered Nurses in partnership with seven other colleges. Registration will commence soon with courses beginning in January of 2024 through the online learning platform of the participating colleges. Eligible applicants must be RNs with current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) without restrictions and have a minimum of two years of full-time experience (or equivalent).
"Based on consultations with partners and drawing from evidence in other regions, we've developed the Registered Nurse-Prescribing program to meet the needs of Ontarians in a safe, efficient manner," said Shane Strickland, Dean of the School of Health, Negahneewin and Community Services at Confederation College. "This comprehensive educational program will maintain patient safety while training authorized RNs to prescribe medications for specific conditions under the Nursing Act."
“We are extremely excited that Confederation College has been approved to offer this vital training that will further expand the scope of nursing in Ontario,” expressed Kathleen Lynch, Confederation College President. “Nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring the health and ongoing care of Ontarians. With a history spanning over five decades in educating nurses and other healthcare professionals, this training is yet another instance of colleges adapting to ensure training aligns with the needs of the workforce and our communities."
Confederation College is part of a consortium of seven Ontario colleges that will be delivering this Ontario Graduate Certificate program across Southeastern and Northwestern Ontario. The development of the program took into consideration Indigenous and bilingual ways of knowing and learning to ensure it caters to the needs of all the communities we serve. The online program delivery model guarantees access for nurses across all of Ontario, and learners are encouraged to register for their program with the college that is closest to their preferred clinical placement location.
For more information, click here, or contact Shane Strickland, Dean, School of Health, Negahneewin and Community Servies; [email protected]
(807) 473-3825
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Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has seven regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Greenstone, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake, as well as a growing Distance Education division.
Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 7,000 combined full- and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 600 full- and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $707.3 million annually.
For more information, please contact:
Jenna Kelos, Communications Officer
Office: (807) 475-6461| Cell: (807) 632-5680