Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing Program (Postgraduate) (S404)

Program Description

Leadership Claims

Preparing Registered Nurses to work in neonatal intensive care units for over 50 years.

Program Overview

George Brown College's Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing (S404) is a postgraduate program that prepares registered nurses to care for critically ill newborns and their families in an intensive care setting. 

Full Description

George Brown College's Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing (S404) is a postgraduate program that prepares Registered Nurses to provide comprehensive care to critically ill newborns and their families in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Research and theoretical perspectives provide the foundation of study for family-centred intensive care.

DELIVERY MODES

This full-time, one semester program (15 weeks) is offered in two learning streams  to support learners with different levels of experience in neonatal nursing. 

  • Full-time – Standard learning stream (15 weeks): Offered in September and January. This stream of learning provides comprehensive teaching for registered nurses who have no current experience in neonatal nursing. Students attend synchronous-learning classes three full days per week. Lectures, case studies and expert guest speakers comprise the theoretical component. Completion of two clinical courses are mandatory. 
  • Full-time – Accelerated learning stream (15 weeks): Offered in September and January. This stream of learning is available to nurses with at least one year of current experience caring for neonates, typically in a Level II or III NICU. Online interactive classes occur twice a week for discussion and facilitation of learning of the theoretical concepts. Class attendance is strongly recommended; recordings will be available. Completion of a successful application of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for current NICU experience will provide credit for one or both clinical courses within the Perinatal program.  

Regardless of the learning stream, all students use: 

  • a theory manual 
  • a textbook 

Faculty are available to support learnerin a variety of ways: 

  • during class through routine question and answer 
  • online meeting platforms or through email 
  • via telephone 
  • tutorial support 

To support the learning outcomes of this course, clinical courses take place in Level II and/or Level III neonatal intensive care units. 

PLEASE NOTE: Public Health continues to recommend that people working with vulnerable communities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Clinical agency partners continue to require students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be approved to complete clinical placements within their facilities. Agencies have the right to decline the placement of students who are not fully vaccinated, and students who are not vaccinated are at risk of not being able to complete their clinical placement course requirements. 

Your Field Education Options

Clinical placement is a key component of George Brown College's Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing program.

To support student learning outcomes, clinical courses will occur in Level II and/or Level III hospital neonatal intensive care units.

To ensure correct understanding and application of theory, learners will practise under the supervision of a clinical teacher or preceptor to develop:

  • specialized knowledge
  • nursing assessment skills
  • clinical competencies

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Graduates of George Brown College's Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing program are qualified to work in Level II and Level III neonatal intensive care units.

"As a Registered Nurse already working in a level II NICU, I was itching to do more, experience more, and learn more. To help me achieve my goal I decided to choose the Perinatal Intensive Course at George Brown College. It was the best decision I ever made. Right from the start, I knew that taking this course would make me a better nurse and overall a better person – professional and personally.

The program was a short 15-week program divided into in-class lectures, hands-on clinical days, high fidelity simulation labs and lectures from speciality staff from SickKids. The program catered to and incorporated all types of learning. We got a chance to learn from the NICU clinicians. There were days when each subspecialty would come in to give a lecture – whether it was the dietician, surgical NP, genetic counsellor, bioethicists, RTs, etc. The program was delivered in various forms such as online lectures, workbooks, textbook readings, case studies, clinical skills learning package, simulation labs, journals references, group discussions, etc.

Heather (program professor and co-ordinator) is absolutely phenomenal. She is very knowledgeable about the program and helped me with every step up until the start date. Jennifer also teaches this course in collaboration with Heather. Jennifer made teaching so simple and easy to understand! Our clinical instructor, Sasha, was exceptional. I was able to complete my tasks in the NICU feeling safe, and supported throughout.

This program is unique in the way that it is built. It is well organized and structured. There is a flow in the way the material is taught. I particularly liked the connection that could be made while learning the theory and being able to apply it simultaneously in the practice setting. I would highly recommend this program for anyone new to the NICU world or even to those who have a few years under their belt. The time, money, and effort endured while doing this program will not disappoint. It helped me connect the dots in all the things I was seeing, and knowing why it was happening and what my role is as a NICU nurse. I have seen and felt an increase in my confidence and nursing skills. I am able to use my critical thinking skills and judgement gained from this course in all levels of the NICU.

To all the people I met during this program, thank you for allowing me to achieve my dreams of working in the Sickkids NICU – I appreciate it! I learned a tremendous amount of information that I will cherish for the rest of my nursing career as a neonatal nurse."

Fiona Cabral
Ontario College Graduate Certificate

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