Graduate Certificate - Gerontology (0966)

The Gerontology program is designed for nurses seeking to enhance their foundational knowledge and develop leadership skills in caring for older adults across diverse settings. Graduates of the program integrate their advanced learning with existing professional credentials and experience to provide exemplary service to this growing population. The program offers a unique interprofessional education experience alongside other nursing and allied health programs and provides access to the Co-Curricular Record program, which recognizes student engagement, leadership, and co-curricular activities pursued outside the classroom. Students participate in experiential learning that includes over 100 hours of clinical placement and 42 hours of hands-on practice in state-of-the-art simulation labs, as well as more than 50 hours of online simulation learning to support knowledge integration and geriatric assessment skills. In addition, international students receive specialized advisement and transition support through the International Division, and all students have the opportunity to earn a Gentle Persuasive Approach certificate, focused on caring for individuals with dementia and other cognitive conditions. The program prepares graduates to integrate nursing research and theoretical frameworks into gerontological nursing practice within the context of the Canadian health care system. Graduates examine the role of the registered nurse in upholding accountability, diversity, equity, and dignity in the care of Canadian seniors and their families, while differentiating between normal age-related changes and pathological conditions in older adults. They apply evidence-based methods and tools to conduct comprehensive geriatric assessments and design individualized plans of care, ensuring compliance with legislation and regulations governing nursing practice in Canada. The program emphasizes the development of professional behaviors and practices to meet the therapeutic needs of individuals affected by chronic illness, multiple comorbidities, or life-limiting conditions, and to respond effectively to the needs and expectations of persons, families, and populations at the end of life. Graduates communicate effectively to promote person- and family-centered care and strengthen interprofessional collaborative practice, while demonstrating enhanced professional leadership capabilities at the levels of the professional, organization, and health care system. They are able to analyze the health impact of public policy on the Canadian population, apply priority-setting and critical-thinking strategies to clinical scenarios, and evaluate the influence of commonly held assumptions and attitudes about aging on the quality of care for older adults. Finally, graduates develop person- and family-centered transition plans that respond to the evolving needs of aging individuals and foster interprofessional collaboration.