Clinical education is a foundational component of nursing education. Clinical instructors have a fundamental role in the education of nursing students, to ensure they are adequately prepared with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to work in a wide-range of practice settings and specialty areas, and meet entry-to-practice competencies. This 6-week foundational course encompasses clinical education at the baccalaureate level in acute care settings, and public health and community health care placements. Course themes include: roles and responsibilities of the clinical instructor; monitoring and evaluating students in clinical settings; developing good patient assignments; mentoring and coaching students; creating a positive learning environment for students; roles and responsibilities of the educational unit in clinical education; and, issues, challenges and strategies for clinical instructors. Upon successful completion, participants will be prepared to write the national certification exam to achieve the Canadian Certified Clinical Instructor (CCCI) designation.

The program is designed for nurses interested in becoming clinical instructors and novice nursing clinical instructors with 5 years of experience or less.

Participants must be a nurse registered in their jurisdiction.

The program is held online via Zoom and Moodle. Participation in all live online chats is a course requirement.

Spring Session

Starts April 1, 2026.

Live chat dates:

• April 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Eastern time
• April 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Eastern time
• May 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Eastern time

Exam: May 27, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Eastern time

View pre-recorded webinars, attend live online chats on Zoom, and successfully complete a mid-term and a final assessment.

A certificate of successful completion will be granted to participants who successfully fulfill the course requirements for the CNEI Clinical Instructor Certificate Course.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• describe the roles and responsibilities of a nursing clinical instructor at the baccalaureate level;
• describe and apply the theoretical principles of clinical instructing in acute care, public health and community health care settings;
• create a positive learning environment for students;
• mentor and coach students in clinical settings;
• analyze and evaluate nursing students’ clinical knowledge and skills in acute care, public health and community health care settings;
• describe the issues and challenges facing clinical instructors, and identify and apply constructive strategies that enable positive learning
• experiences and outcomes for students; and
• recognize the role of the educational institution in supporting clinical instructors to ensure optimal student learning outcomes.

Cost

• $525 for participants from CASN member schools.
• $625 for non-member participants.

Melrose, S., & Perry, B. (Eds.). (2022). Clinical teaching in Canadian nursing. Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

• PDF e-book: $75
• Paperback: $125

Please note: The registration fee does not include the cost of the required textbook.

Jeanette Suurdt, NP, MSc, BNSc, BA
Acute Care Course Instructor

Jeanette Suurdt is a highly qualified and well-respected nurse educator and clinician. She has over 12 years of experience in nursing education as a clinical instructor in acute care, in labs, and in the classroom.

Jeanette has worked in many acute care units, both in Canada and in Australia, as an RN, Advanced Practice Nurse, and Clinical Nurse Consultant. Clinical areas where Jeannette has worked include cardiac surgery, orthopaedics, burn unit, surgery, internal medicine and critical care.

Jeanette is passionate about nursing and clinical teaching. She is committed to ensuring clinical placements prepare students to become caring, skilled and critical thinking practitioners. Jeanette is currently teaching theory and clinical skills within the School of Nursing at Queen’s University.

Melissa Raby, RN, MPA, MPH, BNSc
Public Health and Community Health Course Instructor

Melissa Raby is a highly qualified and well-respected community health clinician and nursing educator. She has considerable teaching experience in both nursing theory and clinical courses, including Management and Leadership in Health Care, Community Health Promotion and Current Issues in Nursing.

Melissa’s professional experiences in Canada include being a nurse educator within the School of Nursing at Queen’s University, and a Public Health Nurse at Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health. Currently, Melissa is temporarily relocated to sunny California where she has gained work experience as a clinical and theory instructor within the Department of Community Health at the UCSF School of Nursing and as a Clinical Nurse Educator for a large community-based center.

Melissa is particularly enthusiastic about communicable disease prevention and control, as well as promoting the field of public health to nursing students.

Cancellations

• Registrations that are cancelled up to 1 week before the start of the course will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee.
• Registrations that are cancelled with less than 1 week’s notice will not be refunded, though the participant will have the option to defer the cost of the course to apply to another CNEI/CASN course.
• There will be no refunds issued once the course begins.
• CASN reserves the right to cancel this course if it does not meet minimal group requirements.

Course Content

• Participants are responsible for access to any course materials, including articles and textbooks.
• There will be no make-up assignments accepted.
• Assignments will not be re-marked.
• Late submissions will not be accepted, unless under exceptional circumstances.

Please see our complete academic policies.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the course, please contact education@casn.ca.