The Nephrology Nursing - RPN certificate program is designed for registered practical nurses (RPNs) employed in and/or seeking to advance their practice in nephrology nursing. Students will learn nephrology nursing assessment and evidence-based nursing interventions, as well as how to develop collaborative and consultative partnerships with nephrology clients, their support systems and other health-care practitioners. Practice specialties include the care of patients with kidney disease, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, renal transplantation as well as pharmacology. Students will also develop high-level critical thinking, care planning, leadership and professional practice skills.
This certificate is based on the Canadian Nurse Association (CNA) competencies for nephrology nurses and the standards for nephrology nursing by the Canadian Council of Nephrology Nurses.
Please note that the courses in this certificate need to be taken in a specific order. Check that you have obtained the necessary pre-requisite prior to registering for a course. Learners without the necessary pre-requisites will be removed from courses and charged the administrative fee.
To ensure a smooth transition from coursework to practical application, all learners are required to complete their placement within one year of finishing the required courses. This timeline is essential for maintaining the integrity and relevance of the skills acquired during your studies. We encourage learners to initiate their placement as soon as possible to fully benefit from the hands-on experience.
Admission Requirements
Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)
Students who have taken NEPH courses prior to Fall 2023 please click here for course registration.
Next Steps
Use the Quick-Look Availability Scheduler to see available courses in a calendar view and plan towards achieving your certificate.
Course Name | 2025/2026 Academic Year | 2026/2027 Academic Year | |||||||||||||
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Compulsory | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar |
NEPH 610: Renal Disorders and Kidney Disease Management | |||||||||||||||
NEPH 611: Peritoneal Dialysis, Advance Care Planning and Kidney Supportive Care | |||||||||||||||
NEPH 612: Nephrology Nursing - Hemodialysis and nursing care of the renal transplant patient | |||||||||||||||
NEPH 614: Nephrology Nursing - Clinical Practicum for the RPN | |||||||||||||||
POST 500: Patient Assessment - Post Graduate |
This course addresses the nursing management and advanced practice competencies required for hemodialysis care and supportive treatment for renal transplantation patients. Significant focus is placed on the components of hemodialysis such as advantages, disadvantages, management of access devices, the hemodialysis prescription, patient assessment, prevention of complications, planning care, and associated pharmacotherapeutics. Students will be challenged with learning activities that promote a thorough understanding of the nurse’s role and responsibilities, as well as leadership principles, regarding care for the patient undergoing hemodialysis. Students are also required to develop a strong knowledge regarding options for renal transplantation, contraindications, and nursing management for the living kidney recipient and donor across the continuum of care.
The registered practical nurse participates in this clinical course within hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis settings. The registered practical nurse applies theoretical principles and concepts that underpin nephrology nursing including those of the Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists (CANNT). By establishing relationships with persons undergoing dialysis and their families, the registered practical nurse facilitates communication and conducts assessments with families from diverse backgrounds. The registered practical nurse learns technical components of dialysis in the clinical setting through observation and/or practice according to hospital policy. The registered practical nurse collaborates effectively with Humber Polytechnic faculty and members of the health care facility in this preceptored, clinical course and reflects daily upon learning opportunities. The registered practical nurse demonstrates safe, professional practice at the novice level; prior clinical knowledge in this area of nursing is not required.
The Nephrology Nursing-RPN clinical is 96 hours and must be completed within a 3-month term. Nurses are required to do two shifts weekly following their preceptor’s schedule.
Step 1: Start your clinical placement application process by completing this Clinical Placement Request Form. Once we receive this form, we will add your name to the clinical waitlist and send you detailed information about the clinical placement process. Your placement requests will be submitted to the hospitals for the next term according to the placement request submission deadline. The placement requests are submitted three months in advance.
Step 2: Once you have submitted your Clinical Placement Request Form, please start working on the Health Clearance requirements, which may take three months to obtain
Note: You will be notified to register for the Clinical CourseThis theoretical course is designed to assist nurses to refine their assessment skills to a higher level in order to obtain data to complete the health history and physical examination of a variety of adult clients. Assessment throughout the lifespan along with cultural and spiritual differences of adult clients will be discussed. The content will focus on culture and diversity, communication and therapeutic nurse or client relationships, safety, interviewing, history-taking, pain and physical and psychosocial assessments. The following systems respiratory, cardiovascular gastrointestinal, genito-urinary, musculoskeletal and neurological will be examined across the lifespan. Emphasis will focus on differentiating normal from abnormal findings to assist the nurse to move appropriately from data collection to nursing diagnosis. Students are expected to take an active role in group discussion, assessment, demonstrations and practice. The learning format will include in-class and online methodologies, such as lectures, reflective practice, case studies, demonstrations and critical discussions.
Why study in our Hybrid courses?
Hands-on learning with instructors and online theory
Practice ‘real scenarios’ in our state-of-the-art labs
Make connections with instructors and peers
for an enriched learning experience
Condensed courses to help fast-track you into your career
Receive regular feedback to improve your skills
Students report high level of confidence after our simulation lab experiences
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Why study in our Online Courses?
Easy-to-navigate modules for student-focused learning
14 week courses allow for achievable timelines
Synchronous lessons throughout courses
Instructor available for individual student questions, in a variety of formats
Various assessments such as videos, interactive quizzes
Want to know more about this offering? We can help.
Humber Continuous Professional Learning Health Sciences & Wellness
cplhealthsciences@humber.ca
416.675.6622 ext. 4554
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