Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice, Clinical Leadership and Education

Applicants must meet the following admission criteria:

• Applicants must be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario as a Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing with no practice restrictions.
• Completion of a master’s degree in nursing or a field related to health care¹.
• GPA of 78% (B+) or higher. Admission averages are based on the last two years of full-time study or the last 10 part-time credits
• Out of province applicants may apply with other Canadian registration if the practicum can be arranged in their province of registration or as a remote placement.
• Completion of the equivalent of three years of full-time RN practice experience in the past five years

Application Requirements

• One academic and one professional reference
  • Referees are contacted after their names are submitted in the online application
  • The academic reference should be provided by a faculty member from the applicant's master’s program who will be able to attest to their scholarly skills, in particular, writing, analysis, and critical thinking
  • The professional reference should be provided by a graduate-educated manager, advanced practice nurse or educator in the area of practice.
• Transcripts of any postsecondary coursework (including bachelor’s degree(s) and any advanced degrees obtained)
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Statement of interest – one page, explaining why the applicant is interested and the impact they expect to make in their area of practice.
• PPCLE Supplemental Form
• Entrance interview may be requested.

¹Registered Nurses complete a baccalaureate program in nursing to be registered in Canadian provinces and may complete a graduate degree in nursing or a health-related discipline. As a result nurses with graduate degrees outside of nursing but with a health care focus would be eligible to apply for the Graduate Diploma.

Applications to the Graduate Diploma will be submitted online through Western’s internal graduate admissions system at https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html.

The Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice, Clinical Leadership and Education is designed to support advanced nursing roles in multiple domains of practice in a variety of specialties, including clinical education, professional practice and policy development, and clinical leadership. Students will choose an area of concentration and complete theoretical and experiential courses over 12 months (3 academic terms). This program will be delivered online, with hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) learning opportunities. The experiential component will require onsite or remote interactions with a mentor depending on the student and practicum locations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate diverse and adaptable leadership strategies and practices to shape changes in health systems, education and policy.
2. Integrate theory and research from nursing and other disciplines to support evidence-informed practices in health policy, health service delivery, and clinical education.
3. Collaborate with others to implement innovative strategies that advance client-centered care and health-care delivery.
4. Coordinate the use of multiple methodologies and diverse community perspectives to address complex issues in a real-world health-care environment.
5. Execute plans and manage people and communication to complete project outcomes.
6. Demonstrate the ability to work with diverse community stakeholders and within one's organization to develop and enact innovative health-care practices.
7. Practice self-evaluation, reflective practice and continuous professional development by setting goals and reviewing personal leadership growth as a health-care professional.

Requirements for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice, Clinical Leadership and Education can be fulfilled in:

• 12 months (one course per semester)
• 8 months (two courses in the first semester or advanced standing for an elective)

These fees are subject to change and are set by Western University. Instructions for students paying tuition from a Canadian bank are available from the Office of the Registrar.

For general program inquiries, please contact gradnurs@uwo.ca.