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Registered Nurse Diagnosing & Prescribing

Certificate of Accomplishment | RNDP1

Program Overview 

The Registered Nurse Diagnosing and Prescribing certificate program is designed for registered nurses (RNs) seeking to advance their knowledge and scope of practice in patient diagnostics and prescription writing. This certification guides learners through the theory of prescribing specific certain medications, patient assessments and follow-ups as set out by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). From December 2025 through the end of March 2026, this program is fully funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and at no cost to learners. 

Upon successful completion of the two theoretical courses, students will proceed to the 8-hour, instructor-led In-Person Simulation.

Academic Partnership 

As of December 2023, the new Registered Nurse Diagnosing & Prescribing at Humber Polytechnic is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). RNs who successfully complete Council approved RN-prescribing education will have this information added to their registrant profile on CNO’s public Registration, Find a Nurse, to communicate their authority to prescribe medications and communicate diagnoses for the purpose of prescribing specified in the RN Prescribing Drug List.

Admission Requirements 

  1. Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) – CNO number and active unrestricted status is required.
  2. Recent employment in a healthcare setting, with a total of 1000 hours calculated. Essential that RN conducts assessment and nursing intervention during these hours.

Documentation Requirements 

  • Current Resume  
  • CNO Entitled to Practice Confirmation 

Fees

  • Fully Funded — No Tuition Costs to You
  • For a limited time the Registered Nurse Diagnosing and Prescribing Certificate is currently tuition-free thanks to funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health 

How to Apply 

To apply to this certificate program, please select Next Steps below:

NEXT STEPS  

How to Register 

Once your application is Approved, please select the Register button below:

REGISTER  

Curriculum

Quick-Look Availability Scheduler

Use the Quick-Look Availability Scheduler to see available courses in a calendar view and plan towards achieving your certificate.

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Course Name 2025/2026 Academic Year 2026/2027 Academic Year 2027/2028 Academic Year
Compulsory Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
RNDP 101: RN Prescribing in Ontario: Accountabilities, Standards, and Competencies
RNDP 102: Integration of Evidence: Health Assessment, Pharmacology, and Client Education
RNDP 103: In-Person Simulation

Compulsory Courses

RNDP 101 RN Prescribing in Ontario: Accountabilities, Standards, and Competencies
 
Learners will build upon previous knowledge, skills and judgement from College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) practice standards and incorporate the legal and ethical responsibilities of prescribing. Through self-directed learning, learners will demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of prescribing and how to build collaborative relationships with client and other health-care providers.

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RNDP 102 Integration of Evidence: Health Assessment, Pharmacology, and Client Education
 
Learners will build on previous knowledge from RNDP 101 and professional practice to engage in meaningful simulations to understand the multiple facets of registered nurses (RN) prescribing. With a simulation component along with asynchronous activities, learners will review physical assessments, interviewing skills to collaborate with patients and follow up methods to ensure a positive outcome for the client. In addition, along with prescription writing fundamentals, RN’s will review pharmacology for the specific medications outlined by the CNO (College of Nurses of Ontario), along with evidence-based algorithms to guide decision making. Learners will then end with reviewing consultation strategies with other health-care providers when the scope of practice has been reached. Virtual simulations will be scheduled with instructors during the course.

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RNDP 103 In-Person Simulation
 

Students enrolled in this course are required to complete a supervised, in-person clinical simulation. The in-person clinical simulation will take place one day for 8 hours scheduled with the instructor during the course. This hands-on experience is designed to help students deepen their understanding of the prescribing process and enhance their practical skills.

Please note: RNs with the authority to prescribe can only do so in practice settings or facilities where RN prescribing is authorized by law and permitted by the employer. The Public Hospitals Act does not permit RNs to prescribe medications in hospital settings.

Employers are responsible for determining the roles and responsibilities of their employees, including determining whether nurses can perform certain activities and procedures in the practice setting. RNs are expected to consult with their employers to confirm that prescribing is permitted in the practice setting.

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Contact Us

Humber Continuous Professional Learning Health Sciences & Wellness
cplhealthsciences@humber.ca
647-577-5334


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