Graduate Diploma Primary Health Care for Nurse Practitioners

The goal of the program is to educate enrolled nurses for an advanced practice role as a primary health care nurse practitioner (NP). The graduates of this program are prepared to assume leadership roles in improving the quality of nursing care as nurse practitioners in various primary health care settings.

The program provides rigorous academic preparation based on theory, research, and practice to address health-related phenomena experienced by individuals, families, groups, and communities.

The Diploma is offered as a post master’s degree option. Courses are offered using a combination of face-to-face and distance modalities. Each student is assigned a clinic placement in Eastern Ontario (Ottawa and surrounding regions).

What You’ll Learn

• Synthesize complex health information using advanced diagnostic reasoning and critical thinking skills.
• Critically appraise current evidence to support best practices.
• Provide comprehensive evidence based on primary health care to clients and families across the lifespan applying clinical, theoretical and research knowledge.
• Evaluate existing community level primary health care programs and develop new programs to meet the primary health care needs of the community.
• Evaluate and influence policies affecting the health of the community.
• Practice autonomously within a collaborative, interprofessional model to promote client health.
• Deliver primary health care utilizing the roles (researcher, educator, and leader, collaborator, and change agent) recognized as advanced nursing practice.