UWindsor nursing first in Ontario with advanced scope of practice curriculum

BScN student standing in general lab with other students in the backgroundThe University of Windsor is leading innovation in nursing education as the first university in Ontario to integrate Registered Nurse prescribing education into its undergraduate nursing curriculum. Supported by new provincial funding, the initiative will prepare future nurses with expanded skills to enhance patient care and healthcare delivery across the province.

By John-Paul Bonadonna

The University of Windsor will become the first university in Ontario to offer undergraduate nursing students education in medication prescribing — a move that aligns with the province’s expanded scope of practice for Registered Nurses (RNs) and aims to strengthen healthcare delivery across the province.

Backed by new provincial funding, the initiative will see prescribing education integrated into UWindsor’s undergraduate nursing curriculum beginning this fall. It will provide future nurses with advanced clinical knowledge and skills to safely and effectively prescribe medications, improving access to care and supporting better health outcomes — especially in underserved communities.

“We are excited to see the RN prescribing course being piloted within undergraduate nursing education at the University of Windsor,” said Gina Pittman, assistant professor and clinical placement co-lead for the Nurse Practitioner Consortium.

“By embedding this course at the undergraduate level, we are not only enhancing clinical competency, but also preparing future nurses to take on expanded roles in patient care with greater autonomy, confidence, and responsiveness to the evolving needs of our healthcare system. It’s an exciting time for nursing education and for the future of healthcare delivery in Ontario.”

In addition to delivering this education to current practising nurses, the University is also taking a leadership role in integrating RN prescribing education into undergraduate nursing — paving the way for expanded opportunities for future nurses.

The introduction of RN prescribing into the undergraduate curriculum comes at a critical time, as Ontario and Canada continue to face healthcare workforce shortages. By equipping graduates with expanded competencies, the University of Windsor is helping to enhance access to timely, high-quality care — particularly in underserved communities.

“This is an exciting advancement for our students and for the future of healthcare in Windsor-Essex and across Ontario,” said Debbie Sheppard-LeMoine, dean of the Faculty of Nursing. “By embedding RN prescribing into our undergraduate curriculum, we are preparing graduates with the advanced skills and confidence they need to meet the evolving needs of patients in our local communities and throughout the province. We sincerely thank the province for supporting this important step forward in nursing education.”

The Faculty of Nursing is working closely with clinical and community partners to implement this in advance of welcoming the first cohort of students into the enhanced education.


 

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