Primary Care Upskilling Program for Registered Nurses

Are you a Registered Nurse (RN) looking to enhance your expertise for working in primary care?

Primary Care Upskilling Program for Registered Nurses is a post-graduate micro-credential (non-credit) course  designed to strengthen the knowledge, confidence, and competence of new and experienced Registered Nurses (RNs) working in primary care settings or interested in working in primary care settings. The course builds upon the existing knowledge, skills, and expertise of Primary Care (PC) RNs and responds to evolving health system priorities and health human resource needs in Ontario, particularly in northern, rural, and remote contexts.

This micro-credential provides RNs with the specialized knowledge required to excel in diverse primary care settings. From urban family practices to remote Northern clinics, the curriculum emphasizes the pivotal role of RNs in team-based care, chronic disease management, and health equity.

Participants will explore the integration of modern digital tools, while grounding their practice in relational inquiry and trauma-informed principles. Through interacting with the Community of Practice of PC RNs and engagement with course content, learners will expand how they approach advocacy and utilize relational practice, potentiate patient autonomy, navigate complex health systems, and provide culturally safe care within interprofessional teams across the lifespan.

Who should take this course?

This course is designed for Primary Care Registered Nurses (PC RNs) registered in Ontario who are working in, or planning to work in, primary care settings across Ontario, including northern, rural, and remote communities.

Schedule:

Cohort #2- June 14, 2026 - September 6, 2026.

Cohort #3- September 20, 2026 - December 13, 2026

Course Outline:

This 12-week course consists of four (4) modules:

Foundational Concepts of Primary Care Nursing Practice
Health and Wellness across the Lifespan 
Chronic Disease Management
Navigating Northern, Rural, Remote, and Urban Nursing Contexts

Format: fully online, asynchronous, with 4 synchronous Community of Practice sessions via Zoom.

Learners should expect to spend about 7-8  hours on each three-week module (30 hours total over 12 weeks), including one hour for each Community of Practice session.