Rural Nursing Certificate Program

The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is a public research university located in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. It is a smaller university, with a student population of around 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and is known for its strong focus on sustainability and the environment. UNBC offers a variety of programs in areas such as natural resources and environmental studies, health sciences, social sciences, business, and engineering. The university is also recognized for its research excellence, particularly in the areas of health, environment, and natural resources, and has a number of research institutes and centers focused on these areas.

Built on a unique partnership between practice and academia, the Rural Nursing Certificate Program (RNCP) was developed by the Provincial Chief Nursing Officer Council (CNOs), BC's Health Authorities, and UNBC. It provides Registered Nurses (RNs) with the opportunity to pursue concentrated coursework in rural nursing through specialty education. The curriculum is practice-driven, evidence informed and reality-based, and is designed to be completed on a part-time basis through distance education, workshops, and clinical placements. The program consists of seven courses (30 credit hours) aimed at preparing nurses for confident, competent, and safe rural practice. Coursework includes: Health Assessment and RN First Call; Chronic Disease Management, Palliative Care and Wound Care; Nursing Practice with Older Persons; Perinatal Care; Foundations in Emergency and Trauma Nursing; Mental Health and Addictions, and; Living and Working in a Rural Community. RNs with a Registered Nurse Diploma may be eligible to take five courses (15 credit hours) in addition to the Rural Nursing Certificate in order to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN).