Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing

(Postgraduate) (S404)

Program Details

  • Program Code: S404
  • Credential:
    Ontario College Graduate Certificate
  • Duration:
    15 weeks (1 semester)
  • Method of Study:
    Full-time
  • Starting Months: January, September
  • Domestic Tuition:
    $2,441.00 *
  • Spring 2026 Delivery:
    Not Available

Program Availability

SemesterDomesticInternational
Fall 2025
Closed
Not Available
Winter 2026
Closed
Not Available
Spring 2026
Not Available
Not Available
  • Work-Integrated Learning:

    Clinical Placement

  • PGWP Eligible: No
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Program Description

Leadership Claims

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

Program Overview

The one-semester Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing (Postgraduate S404) program prepares Registered Nurses to provide care for critically ill newborns and their families in an intensive care setting.

Full Description

Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing (Postgraduate S404) is a program for Registered Nurses to learn how 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-centered intensive care.

Delivery Modes

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

  • Full-time – Standard learning stream (15 weeks): Offered in September and January. Choose this stream of learning if you are a registered nurse with no current experience in neonatal nursing. As a student in this stream, you will 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 is mandatory.
  • Full-time – Accelerated learning stream (15 weeks): Offered in September and January.  Choose this stream of learning if you are a registered nurse 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 your learning stream (standard or accelerated), you will use:

  • a theory manual
  • a textbook

Faculty will be available to support you in 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 Polytechnic'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, you will practiсe under the supervision of a clinical teacher or preceptor to develop:

  • specialized knowledge
  • nursing assessment skills
  • clinical competencies

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

As a graduate of George Brown Polytechnic's Registered Nurse – Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing program, you will be qualified to work in Level II and Level III neonatal intensive care units.

Alumni Impact

We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.

From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.

Latest Alumni Stories

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"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 Polytechnic. 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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