McMaster Continuing Education and School of Nursing partner to offer academic certificate

McMaster University Continuing Education and the School of Nursing have partnered to offer a Nursing Concepts in Continence Care program that will provide healthcare professionals the knowledge and skills to manage and treat incontinence in care settings. Launching Spring term 2021, the program consists of three courses. Upon completion, students gain a Certificate of Professional Learning.

The program explores the subject of continence and incontinence from a nursing perspective to prepare nurses in healthcare setting such as acute, primary, community and long-term care, as well as in retirement homes and rehabilitation facilities. It may also be of interest to social workers, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals. Students will focus on improving the quality of life for those suffering with urinary or fecal incontinence by understanding the contributing factors and exploring the various management techniques.

Jennifer Skelly, an associate professor at McMaster’s School of Nursing, will be the program instructor. Skelly has been actively involved in developing continence care standards and education for nurses over the past 25 years, saying, “Once you feel comfortable understanding the issues surrounding incontinence, you feel tremendous satisfaction helping an individual learn how to manage it and get their lives back. As a nurse, being able to offer holistic and empathetic care to vulnerable people is one of the things that is special in our profession.”

The program’s courses, Nursing Concepts in Continence Care, Advanced Concepts in Continence Care and Concepts in Continence Care Clinical Placement, can be completed to receive a Certificate of Professional Learning, an academic certificate that will be recorded on graduates’ transcripts. This certificate program replaces the Nurse Continence Advisory (NCA) program originally available at the McMaster School of Nursing.

McMaster University Continuing Education has inspired people to discover and achieve through lifelong learning since 1931. As one of Canada’s largest and leading providers of continuing education for adult learners, McMaster Continuing Education’s purpose is to develop and realize both individuals’ and society’s potential by providing the education to thrive in today’s dynamic world.

For more information, please visit https://continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs/health-social-services/nursing-concepts-in-continence-care/.