Advanced Practice Leadership

The practice-oriented and theory-based Advanced Practice Leadership (APL) master's program prepares nurses for a dual career focus--advanced clinical practice and nursing leadership. The APL program prepares nurse leaders to work in primary, acute, and community care including the clinical nurse specialist role.

Please refer to the UVic Graduate Calendar for admission and program requirements. APL is offered via distance learning (primarily web-based asynchronous) See below for example course scheduling for full-time course-based (2 courses per semester over two years) or part-time (1 course per semester over four years) as well as the thesis option.

Students admitted through the UVic-BCIT Graduate Pathway will receive block credit = 4.5 units. These credits will satisfy the program elective course requirements.

Students interested in the thesis option must meet the criteria for the MN Thesis option as outlined in the Graduate Calendar

Explore the courses you will take

Prepare for your practice education

The Advanced Practice Leadership stream has one required practice course, with the recommended option to take a second practice course, where students select experiences to meet their educational and career goals.

Please see the NURA 517 and NURA 518 competencies for these courses.

Each course is 104 total hours. You'll complete 78 hours in practice, focusing on learning goals and initiatives negotiated in the learning plan with an advanced practice nurse as a field guide. Twenty-six hours are completed in online activities with co-learners and the professor to support learning in the practicum. Many students work with the same field guide or service across both terms.

Your practice experiences must be separate from paid employment. While you may work with a colleague in your institution, you must not select someone in a supervisory relationship.

The practica coordinator and student will begin practicum planning 5-6 months before the start of the practice course.

You may be required to travel outside your local community to complete practice experiences and must arrange your transportation and accommodation. Any costs related to nursing practice experiences are the individual student's responsibility.

Ideally, you will be preceptored by an advanced practice nurse who has attained a Master of Nursing and has a clinical component to their work. Occasionally, joint field guide situations are utilized to accommodate the need for meeting clinical, research, leadership, consultation, and collaboration competencies. 

One month before the start of your practicum, ensure you have met and submitted the necessary school of nursing practica requirements.

For questions, please contact our practica coordinators at gradnurspc@uvic.ca

Read about the program objectives

Graduates of the Advanced Practice Leadership will:

  • Understand the complexity of nursing leadership and advanced nursing practice within local and global contexts, and demonstrate advanced practice nursing values, ethics, and leadership guided by social justice
  • Articulate the impact of nursing leadership on client care, professional nursing, health, and the health care system
  • Understand the processes of program development, implementation and evaluation, and