Rural and Remote Nursing (Micro-credential)

The Rural and Remote Nursing program includes a series of three courses that students will complete asynchronously and concurrently over 15 weeks: 

• Indigenous Health Perspectives
  This course aims to analyze the impact of historical policies and events on present-day health outcomes within Indigenous populations, identifying patterns of disparity and resilience, as well as understand and apply practical approaches to cultural safety and sensitivity in the healthcare field.
  
  
• Rural and Remote Nursing: Professional Conduct and Issues  
  Discover the challenges and opportunities related to creating a professional nursing practice and using health/nursing informatics in rural and remote areas. We will delve into understanding professionalism in a rural context, the nursing role in a rural and remote health care team, leadership and advocacy skills as well as social and professional networking. We will also examine confidentiality and security issues in informatics, social media as a change medium and the use of telemedicine for sole practitioners. 
  
  
• Rural and Remote Nursing: Provision of Chronic Disease, Acute Care, and Trauma Management  
  Explore the knowledge and skills required to provide comprehensive nursing care in rural and remote settings. Learners will examine the unique challenges associated with managing chronic disease, acute illness, and traumatic events in geographically isolated communities. Emphasis is placed on assessment, care planning, clinical decision-making, and evidence-informed interventions across the lifespan. Topics include chronic disease management, acute and trauma care, women's health, perinatal and pediatric care, domestic violence, and the roles of RNs and RPNs in delivering safe, effective, and culturally responsive care in rural and remote environments. 

Designed for nursing professionals who currently work in high-demand health care settings, gaining real work experience, our micro-credential program does not include clinical placements. This gives you more time to focus on gaining knowledge and learning new skills that will help you provide care in remote communities where access to health services and health care professionals may be limited. 

This Rural and Remote Nursing micro-credential program is delivered asynchronously online over a 15-week period, from March 1 to June 14, 2027. The flexible online delivery provides working nurses with the opportunity to complete the course work while remaining employed.  

Courses must be worked on concurrently to finish the program by the required program completion deadline.

Minimum Admission

Must hold a degree or diploma in one of the following professions: 

• Registered practical nurse (RPN) 
• Registered nurse (RN) 
• Nurse Practitioner (NP) 

Students must also be: 

• In good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). 
• A Canadian citizen, or have Permanent Resident or Refugee claimant status. 

Proof of nursing credentials and resident status are required. 

As a fully funded government program, this Rural and Remote Nursing micro-credential program is free for registered practical nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Ontario, and those with refugee status. 

To be considered for this fully-funded Rural and Remote Nursing micro-credential opportunity, simply complete the following steps:

STEP 1: Complete the Rural and Remote Nursing Micro-Credential Application Form.

STEP 2: E-mail the required documentation to coned@flemingcollege.ca.  You will need to include:

• a copy of your RPN, RN, or NP diploma or degree
• proof of citizenship, residency, or status (ex. Canadian citizen certificate, valid Canadian passport, permanent residence card, Canadian immigration identification card, or refugee protection document or other official documentation)
• verification of CNO registration and in good standing status

Application and Offer Deadlines 

The deadline to apply for the Rural and Remote Nursing micro-credential program is January 8. Applicants who are accepted into this program will be notified by e-mail on January 22, 2027. Offers must be accepted by February 5, 2027. If you do not accept your offer by the deadline, the next person on the waiting list will receive an offer. This program starts on March 1, 2027.

Once you accept your offer from Fleming College, you will receive further instruction and details by e-mail in the coming weeks.

NOTE: If you do not meet the admissions requirements, we invite you to explore other Fleming Continuing Education micro-credentials and specializations or programs in our School of Health and Community Services.

Graduates of this program will earn an Ontario College Micro-credential. You will receive a digital badge after completing each course within the series and a Statement of Achievement upon completion of the entire three-course series. 

Led by Scarborough Health Network, with Fleming College serving as the training partner, the Rural and Remote Nursing Micro-credential program is funded by the Government of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream. 

About Scarborough Health Network (SHN) 
SHN is shaping the future of care. Across three hospitals and several community-based locations, SHN offers a spectrum of essential and specialized health services for a diverse community, delivering exceptional quality care through all stages of life. We are a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, and a key partner for the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, while SHN Research Institute is at the forefront of multicultural health research. With support from the Love, Scarborough fundraising campaign, SHN is working to Build It Forward through a multi-year redevelopment strategy. We are bringing innovative, state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and technology to our health network to meet Scarborough’s evolving needs into the future. Visit SHN.ca. 

This Employment Ontario program is funded by the Government of Ontario.