Mental Health 4 for Nurse Practitioners

This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addiction in the context of care in the following areas: substance-related and addictive disorders including the use of stimulants and benzodiazepines, opioids, alcohol, cannabis, feeding and eating disorders, and sleep/wake disorders. The course content addresses care issues across the lifespan.

An interactive and case-based approach is utilized to address mental health and addictions issues with an emphasis on critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. Clinical experts discuss advanced health assessment, differential diagnoses for the presenting problem, relevant pathophysiology, red flags and how to triage patients who may need a higher level of care, the relevant diagnostic approach and tests, selection of appropriate interventions and treatments, indications for consultation and referral, and strategies for communication and effective management in transitions of care.

This is the fourth course in a 4-course Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions for Nurse Practitioners. The certificate builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired through entry-to-practice education and the acquisition of entry-to-practice competencies. The certificate will equip Nurse Practitioners with the knowledge and tools to confidently assess and develop a treatment plan for clients with mental health and/or addictions issues across the lifespan.

Prerequisites:

Currently registered as a Nurse Practitioner or a student in a nurse practitioner program.

Audience

Nurse Practitioners who wish to further develop their competency, knowledge, skill and clinical acumen in the care of clients with mental health and addictions issues. Course participants must hold current registration as a Nurse Practitioner in their jurisdiction or be a student in a nurse practitioner program.

This certificate program was developed in collaboration with the Mental Health Community of Practice of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of the 4-course certificate program, learners will be able to:

A. Articulate the role and competencies of a Nurse Practitioner working with clients with mental health and addictions issues.

  1. Discuss key role and scope issues relevant to the NP role in mental health and addictions services.
  2. Demonstrate confidence to practice independently and collaboratively.

B. State the clinical care requirements and management for a wide variety of mental health and addictions issues in individuals across the lifespan, including the ability to:

  • Conduct the appropriate advanced health assessment.
  • Identify appropriate differential diagnoses for the presenting problem.
  • Understand relevant pathophysiology.
  • Recognize red flags and how to triage patients who may require a specialized and/or higher level of care.
  • Identify appropriate diagnostic approach and tests.
  • Select appropriate interventions and treatments and evaluation plan.
  • Describe indications for necessary consultations and referral.
  • Identify strategies for communication and effective management at transitions in care and for safe discharge.

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Course Outline

TimeDescriptionFaculty

Week 1

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Jennifer Madore NP-PHC, MScN

Week 2

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Margaret Loughran MHScN NP-PHC

Week 3

Overview of Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Shahnawaz Ali, NP

Week 4

Alcohol Use Disorders

Shawn Dookie, BScN MPH NP-PHC

Week 5

Cannabis Use Disorders

Tara Leach PHC-NP MScN SANE-A TICT-CT

Week 6

Stimulants and Benzodiazepine Use

Shahnawaz Ali, NP

Week 7

Opioid Use Disorders

Katie Dunham, NP-PHC, Nurse Educator, META:PHI

Week 8

Final Examination

Course Format

Delivery Mode

This online course is offered through the University of Toronto Learning Portal – QUERCUS. Each week, participants will be expected to view e-learning modules, review required readings and resources and actively engage with learning activities that will focus on the application of learning. Learning activities and assignments/examinations will provide opportunity to apply learnings and receive feedback. It is anticipated that participants can expect to allocate approximately 5 or more hours a week for completion of a module as well as additional time for assignments.

Teaching Methods

Each week consists of a recorded lecture by expert clinician faculty who will be available for questions through the discussion board during their module. Each module focuses on a discussion of the appropriate health assessment, relevant differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, red flags, use of diagnostic tests and screening tools, selection of appropriate interventions and treatments, indications for referral and/or consultation, and considerations in transitions in care/discharge. Additional clinical resources are provided such as clinical practice guidelines, relevant practice standards and clinical tools for practice.

Mental Health 1 for Nurse Practitioners

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Mental Health 2 for Nurse Practitioners

This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: depressive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, bipolar […]

Mental Health 3 for Nurse Practitioners

This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: trauma, personality disorders with a focus on borderline personality, […]

Course Director

Shahnawaz Ali

Nurse Practitioner, Canadian Mental Health Association Peel, RAAM Clinic
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto

Faculty

Shawn Dookie

Nurse Practitioner, St Joseph’s Care Group (Thunder Bay)
Medical Director, Elevate NWO
Lecturer, Lakehead University (PHCNP Program)

Katie Dunham

Nurse Educator, META:PHI

Tara Leach

Nurse Practitioner
Substance Use Concurrent Disorder Unit (SUCD)
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health

Jennifer Convery

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – EHN Guardians Gateway

Margaret Loughram

Nurse Practitioner, Regional Eating Disorders Program
Health Sciences North – Mental Health and Addictions Program

Teaching Assistants

Julie Bisson

Nurse Practitioner, Integrated Community Access Program, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

Joanna Dickinson

Nurse Practitioner, Caroline Family Health Team

Registration Information

Fees

$870 + HST
$970 + HST
$825 + HST
$825 + HST
$825 + HST

Site Groups

A group discount rate of 15% is available for site groups of three or more people. To book please contact pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.

Please Note

  • Refund Policy – To withdraw from a course, send a written request to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca by September 7, 2024. No refunds will be given after this date. All refunds are subject to an administrative fee of $100 + tax. Alternatively, a colleague may attend in your place. Please send your substitution request at least 3 days prior to the course to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.
  • Registration Deadline by October 7, 2024.
  • *U of T Nursing Alumni discount is available to participants who hold a BScN, MN, PMNP Diploma, MScN or PhD from the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
  • **U of T Nursing Faculty discount is available to participants who hold a current (at time of registration) faculty position, an adjunct appointment or a status appointment to the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
  • ***NPAO (Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario) members may register at the NPAO rate which is 15% off the regular rate. NOTE: All submissions will be checked and verified for current NPAO membership status using the registrant’s name.
  • Applicable taxes (13% HST) will be added to the registration fees.
  • Course Cancellation Policy – The Centre for Professional Development reserves the right to cancel courses due to circumstances. The decision to cancel a course is normally made 15 days prior to the course. If you are enrolled in a course which is subsequently cancelled, you may apply your fee to another course, or receive a full refund. The Centre is not responsible for any travel or other expenses incurred by you. 

OSAP for Micro-credentials

The Ontario Student Assistance Program now offers funding for micro-credentials (short training programs offered by post-secondary institutions), including a number of courses offered by the Centre for Professional Development. This funding initiative is part of Ontario’s micro-credentials strategy, helping learners access more opportunities to train or upskill for in-demand jobs through loans and grants.

Contact Us

Centre for Professional Development
Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto
155 College Street, Suite 130
Toronto, ON, Canada
M5T 1P8