RN Education
Graduate Programs
Is there a need for graduate-prepared nurses?
There is a strong need within the nursing profession and within the health care system for advanced preparation in nursing. Many nurses who have graduate degrees in nursing act as leaders, researchers, or educators. Some are involved in advanced and expanded or extended practice, in nursing specialities.
Where can I obtain information about graduate programs in Canada?
The Canadian Nurses Association maintains a list of Canadian master's and doctoral programs in nursing. To obtain it, please click on the link to request a copy. Lists of programs and courses offered by distance education are also available. More detailed information can be obtained by contacting the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN), E-mail: inquire@casn.ca CASN maintains a database of educational programs offered by its members. The list includes graduate programs.
Where can I obtain information about graduate programs outside of Canada?
A large number of institutions outside of Canada also offer graduate programs. Information about institutions outside of Canada may be obtained in directories. You will find directories in the reference departments of libraries. Directories published on a regular basis are listed below:
Peterson's Guide to Nursing Programs: Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Education in the U.S. and Canada. Princeton, NJ: Peterson's Guides.
National League for Nursing. Annual Guide to Graduate Nursing Education. New York, National League for Nursing.
Are graduate programs offered by distance?
A number of Canadian universities offer graduate programs by distance. To obtain information about distance education, please click on the link. Several foreign graduate programs, for example in the United States and Australia, are offered by distance. There is currently no mechanism in Canada that allocates uniform recognition of foreign nursing graduate degrees. Credentials of potential students are evaluated by each Canadian University on an individual basis and may therefore vary from one university to another.
Registered nurses who are in the process of choosing post-diploma baccalaureate programs should inquire at the graduate schools of their choice to determine entrance requirements. This information could be used to determine which post-RN programs to enter. These students may avoid the disappointment encountered by graduates of shorter programs.
Related Links
June 1999
