Nurse with dark brown, curly hair wearing blue scrubs with a pink stethoscope over their shoulders in a hospital room setting

Prepare for a nursing career in Ontario

Enhanced Practice for Internationally Educated Nurses – Complex Care Ontario College Graduate Certificate program

Build on your internationally-acquired skills to prepare for a nursing career in Ontario. Learn acute complex care through classes, labs and clinical placements.

Program code CCNI
Duration 1 Year
Credential Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Program Delivery Full-time
Program delivery method(s) In person What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

In this program, Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) enhance their knowledge and understanding of nursing practice in complex care environments in Ontario by developing their theoretical and clinical skills. Individuals with complex care needs often suffer from combinations of multiple chronic conditions, mental health problems, drug interactions and social vulnerability. Using an interprofessional approach, students focus on the application and evaluation of advanced theories and practices related to ethical and legal issues, pharmacology, advanced health assessment, mental health nursing practice, complex health challenges, clinical decision making, communication, cultural diversity and sensitivity. Experienced nursing faculty use a variety of active learning methods, including simulation labs and a practicum placement to assist IENs to consolidate their understanding of healthcare in Canada and the nursing profession in Ontario.

In order to provide a quality practicum placement, students will be placed in a variety of settings. Students are required to provide their own transportation for the practicum.

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Winter 2025 Barrie
Fall 2025 Orangeville

Tuition and fees

Work-integrated learning

  • This program includes a clinical placement component where you’ll get clinical experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional.
  • Learn about types of work-integrated learning at Georgian.

What are the admission requirements for the Enhanced Practice for Internationally Educated Nurses – Complex Care program?

Enhanced Practice for Internationally Educated Nurses – Complex Care admission requirements

Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree, or equivalent in nursing. 

 

Selection Process
Preference will be given to applications with the following:
 
  • post-secondary degree in nursing from an accredited nursing education program;
  • current registration with the nursing regulatory body in their home province/state and or country; (i.e. letter, membership card, etc.); 

Language Proficiency Requirement

The English proficiency requirement can be met through:

  • IELTS with an overall score of 6.5

For further information, refer to Georgian’s English Language Proficiency policy 2.5 at: https://georgiancollege.ca/admissions/policies-procedures 

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not pardoned will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical or work placement.

Additional information

Students must have up-to-date immunization records in compliance with the Public Hospitals Act. Students must also have a valid mask fit test, BLS CPR and Standard First Aid. Students are to use the Clinical Preparedness Permit to document completion of these clinical requirements.

Completion and submission of this permit is required in order to ensure placement in clinical and field placement facilities.

Students will be placed in a variety of agencies in the region serviced by the campus. Students are required to provide their own transportation to the placement site.

Information about placement requirements

To help you navigate the requirements to complete the clinical placement component(s) of this program (e.g. immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and other non-academic requirements), please review the details below.

For more information about placements, visit the Placement Offices webpage.

Placement requirementsGeorgian College Chevron

In order to provide quality practicum placements (“Placements”), students are placed in a variety of agencies, largely in the region serviced by the campus. Students are required to provide their own transportation to Placements. Placements may vary in length (e.g. six to 12 hour days) and may include weekends and evenings, with varying start and end times (e.g. day, afternoon, overnight).

Many programs, including Health and Wellness, have immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and  other non-academic requirements that need to be met prior to Placements starting. You are responsible for carefully reviewing and meeting these requirements. The failure to meet them may mean that the host agency may refuse to accept you for a Placement or, if you have started one, that you may be prevented from continuing. The result may be that you cannot complete your program. Program-specific requirements can be found on page 2 of the Clinical Preparedness Permit specific to your program.

You are responsible for meeting all immunization, criminal screening and other requirements by the deadline provided by your program and before you start your Placement.

Notes regarding the Criminal Record Check (“CRC”) and Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)

Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not yet pardoned or who have adverse entries on their CRC or VSS will be prohibited from proceeding to a Placement. Such a student will normally be counselled to withdraw from the program because the successful completion of a Placement is a program requirement.

Obtaining the CRC and VSS usually requires a processing time of up to 12 weeks and can vary between police jurisdictions. As some jurisdictions require longer lead time for processing, ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. Record checks and screenings conducted earlier than six months may not be considered current and not be acceptable. Refer to your Clinical Preparedness Permit for information regarding this. A host agency may refuse a Placement if the CRC or VSS is not satisfactory to it. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the necessary completed documents prior to the start of a Placement at the designated check time, and in the format set by Georgian College and stated in the Clinical Preparedness Permit Information Package. More information can be found on the Placement Offices webpage.

The costs associated with the provision of the CRC and VSS, anything related to them (including, if applicable, obtaining a pardon), and meeting any immunization and other Placement requirements, are to be borne by the student. The non-academic requirements of clinical agencies as described in the Clinical Preparedness Permit are subject to change at any time and host agencies may accept or decline students for any reason at their discretion. Georgian College  is not responsible for any of the costs associated with the foregoing, nor for the consequences of failing to comply with, any of the requirements set out above.  

What career paths can I take in complex care?

Your Acute Complex Care for Internationally Educated Nurses graduate certificate gives you many career opportunities

Graduates may find employment opportunities in a variety of health care settings, which may include acute care facilities, long term care and community care.

What courses are included in the Enhanced Practice for Internationally Educated Nurses – Complex Care program?

Course overview

10 Program Courses
1 Clinical Placement

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Enhanced Practice for Internationally Educated Nurses – Complex Care program outline.

  • CCNI 1000 – Introduction to Complex Care Nursing
  • CCNI 1001 – Nursing as a Profession
  • CCNI 1002 – Advanced Pharmacology
  • CCNI 1003 – Professional Communication in Nursing
  • CCNI 1004 – Advanced Health Assessment
  • CCNI 1005 – Complex Care Nursing Skills

Your course delivery method(s)

In person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

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Do you have questions about Enhanced Practice for Internationally Educated Nurses – Complex Care? Contact us!

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