Additional Authorized Practice (AAP) is an advanced designation available to registered nurses in Saskatchewan. It allows eligible RNs to provide additional health-care services in community settings through expanded assessment, prescribing and clinical decision-making responsibilities.
These courses, NURS-1724 Health Assessment, PHAR-1610 Clinical Drug Therapy and NURS-1679 Clinical Decision Making for Additional Authorized Practice, are approved by the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) to support nurses pursuing AAP designation.
Effective September 2025:
- Course code for NURS-225 Health Assessment will be NURS-1724 Health Assessment.
- Course code for PHAR-271 Clinical Drug Therapy will be PHAR-1610 Clinical Drug Therapy.
Courses
Registration requirements
Eligible for licensure with the registered nurses' licensing body in your jurisdiction.
Learning outcomes
- Conduct a systematic patient visit starting with a health history
- Select interviewing strategies to complete a health history
- Demonstrate the technique of inspection
- Demonstrate the technique of palpation
- Demonstrate the technique of percussion
- Demonstrate the technique of auscultation
- Perform a general survey on an adult client
- Discuss components of mental functions and variations with age
- Perform a mental status examination on an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and normal variations of the skin
- Perform an assessment of the skin, hair and nails on an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and normal variations of the neurological system
- Perform an assessment of the neurological system on an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and age-related variations of the head and neck
- Perform an assessment of the head and neck on an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and normal variations of the thorax and lungs
- Perform an assessment of the thorax and lungs of an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and age-related variations of the breasts and axillae
- Perform an assessment of the breasts and axillae on an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and age-related variations of the cardiovascular and peripheral vascular systems
- Perform an assessment of the cardiovascular and peripheral vascular systems on an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and age-related variations of the abdomen
- Perform an assessment of the abdomen on an adult client
- Describe the structure, function, and age-related variations of the adult male and female genitalia and rectum
- Describe how to assess the adult male and female genitalia and rectum
- Describe the structure, function, and normal variations of the musculoskeletal system
- Perform an assessment of the musculoskeletal system
- Describe the examination techniques for infant clients
- Describe the examination techniques for clients in early childhood
- Describe the examination techniques for clients in late childhood
- Describe the clinical reasoning process
- Review common types of clinical cognitive errors
Registration requirements
Eligible for licensure with the registered nurses' licensing body in your jurisdiction
Learning outcomes
- Describe the role of the nurse in providing drug therapy
- Describe the safe use of drugs
- Describe sources of drug information and how it influences rational drug prescribing
- Describe the process of drug movement and action in the body
- Discuss the factors that affect drug action
- Describe the drugs used for pain and inflammation
- Describe the psychotherapeutic drugs
- Describe the drugs used for seizure and parkinson's disorders
- Describe the drugs used in substance abuse disorders
- Review the clinical decision tools related to the central nervous system and pain management
- Describe the drugs affecting the sympathetic nervous system
- Describe the drugs affecting the parasympathetic nervous system
- Describe the corticosteroids
- Describe drugs used for thyroid and parathyroid disorders
- Describe the anti-diabetic drugs
- Describe the characteristics of antimicrobial drugs
- Describe antibacterial drugs
- Describe anti-viral, antifungal, and anti-parasitic agents
- Review the clinical decision tools related to the management of infections
- Describe the agents used to treat airway disorders
- Describe antihistamines, nasal decongestants, antitussives, mucolytics, and cold remedies
- Review the clinical decision tools related to the management of respiratory conditions
- Describe the drugs used to manage blood pressure
- Describe the anti-anginal drugs
- Describe the drugs used for contractility and conduction
- Describe blood coagulation agents
- Describe the drug used for dyslipidemia
- Describe the use of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes
- Describe the drugs used for gastric hyperacidity
- Describe drugs used for gastrointestinal symptom control
- Describe drugs used for genitourinary conditions
- Describe appropriate drug therapy in an emergency situation
Registration requirements
- PHAR 271 Clinical Drug Therapy
- NURS 225 Health Assessment
- Eligible for registered nurses' licensure in your jurisdiction
- Approval of program head (Overall progression grade of 70% in PHAR 271 & NURS 225)
Learning outcomes
- Practice in accordance with federal and provincial/territorial legislation, professional and ethical standards and values, and policy relevant to additional authorized practice.
- Provide health care services in the role of additional authorized practice in collaboration with others.
- Use evidence-informed research to manage limited common medical disorders.
- Examine therapeutic interpersonal communication.
- Develop knowledge of procedural skills.
- Provide care for conditions covered by the clinical decision tools
Contact us
For more information contact ConEd@saskpolytech.ca or call 306-659-4418.
