Click here to view the Distance Nursing Certificate Programs Brochure for RN’s (PDF file)
NURSING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
St. Francis Xavier University is pleased to offer certificate programs in clinical specialty areas to Post-RN students through distance education. Designed specifically for practicing nurses, these courses enable nurses to develop a stronger theory base, enhance their nursing practice, and address health care needs across nursing practice and life continuums.
Each course is fully transferable into the StFX Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and awards a certificate of completion upon conclusion of all required courses.
Each Certificate program is comprised of four required courses, valued at 3 credits each, totaling 12 credits.
These clinical certificate programs may be taken by students currently enrolled in the Post-RN BScN Program, as well as those preparing to enroll in a baccalaureate nursing program or nurses simply wanting to take a certificate program for personal or professional interest. Everything needed to complete the courses (except course texts) is contained in the learning package (print-based courses only) sent to students.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Each program is comprised of courses within the Part-time Post-RN BScN Program. Please note that each of the required courses have a value of 3 credits and are delivered over a 10-week period. The mode of delivery is based on a distance learning package that includes all required materials except required texts.
Certificate in Gerontological Nursing
This program is designed to prepare registered nurses to deliver holistic, effective care to older adults. Developing knowledge and practice skills enables nurses to address comprehensive needs of older client populations, identifying strengths as well as professional care needs. Each course is worth 3 credits.
The core curriculum includes the following courses:
N115: Health Teaching & Learning
N245: Aging and the Older Adult
N425: Comprehensive Health Assessment (online delivery only)
N488: Challenges in Aging: Implications for Nursing (online delivery only)
Certificate in Continuing Care
This program is designed to prepare registered nurses to move into the home health care area. This program enables nurses to move from acute care to home health care and expand their professional competencies and knowledge. Each course is worth 3 credits.
The core curriculum includes the following courses:
N135: Contemporary Issues in Nursing
N115: Health Teaching & Learning
N205: Community Health Nursing (online delivery only)
N425: Comprehensive Health Assessment (online delivery only)
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
N115: Health Teaching & Learning
In contrast to health protection and illness prevention, health promotion is a broad and holistic concept. This course explores the concept of health promotion; the nurse’s role in health promotion; the teaching-learning process; population health; social action and justice; the socio-cultural, economic, and political factors that influence health and behavior.
N135: Contemporary Issues in Nursing
The foundation for all subsequent nursing courses, this class explores the evolution of nursing as a profession, including its theoretical and philosophical bases. Topics include: Orem’s self-care theory; legal and ethical issues; health care reform; the image of professional nursing; changing health care priorities, the image of professional nurses, and changing health care priorities.
N205: Community Health Nursing
Explores the role of the community health nurse in the context of a changing health care system. Topics include: population health; primary health care; community assessment; epidemiology and demography; environment and ecology; cultural competence; ethics; the community as partner. (online delivery only)
N245: Aging and the Older Adult
This course covers the process of growing older with reference to theories on universal aging. Students will learn to improve the function, quality of life, and self-care abilities of the elderly well, to assist them in maintaining independence. Topics include: aging-related changes; the role of the family and other aggregates; how elderly adults define and promote their health; the use of community resources.
N425: Comprehensive Health Assessment
This theory and practice course focuses on a systematic assessment of the well adult. Students will incorporate health history and physical examination of body systems in identifying self-care requisites for a diverse population. (online delivery only)
N488: Challenges in Aging: Implications for Nursing
Using nursing and sociological perspectives on aging, students will explore holistic care of the older client, including current gerontological issues and trends, and their implications for nursing. Integrated nursing practice component. Also offered on campus. May be used as an open or NURS elective by third- or fourth-year B.Sc.N. students. (online delivery only)
ADMISSION/REGISTRATION
A current RN registration and one year clinical experience are required for both certificates and any of the specialty courses. For more information on registration and fees regarding these courses please contact the Program Office.
Click on link to download application form.
Distance Nursing Programs
St. Francis Xavier University
PO Box 5000, Antigonish, N.S. Canada
B2G 2W5
Toll-free Telephones:
1-800-588-2246
1-800-565-4371
Fax: (902) 867-5154
