Instructors

Become an NRP Instructor

1. Meet the registration guidelines.
2. Complete the online NRP exam within 12 months of the NRP Instructor course. 
3. Complete the NRP Instructor course.To find a course contact your Provincial NRP Organization Liaisons.
4. Successfully “team teach” at least one NRP Provider course, supervised by an NRP Instructor Trainer (IT) or delegate identified by an IT, within six months of taking the NRP Instructor course.
5. Complete an Instructor Registration Form and send to the CPS with the registration fee of $135 plus tax. 

Renew your NRP Instructor Status

• NRP Instructors must teach three courses every three years, re-write the complimentary online NRP exam, and pay the renewal fee of $135 plus tax to renew.
• Instructors will receive email reminders with information on how many courses they've taught, where they can access the exam, and how to pay the renewal fee.
• Current NRP Instructors are required to participate in an Instructor Update workshop when there is a significant change in NRP guidelines.
• All NRP Instructors should remain current in neonatal resuscitation practices and education.

Teaching NRP Provider Courses

• Instructor resources can be found on the Neonatal Life Support (NLS) portal.
• Order course materials through the CPS bookstore.
• Share these teaching videos with course participants - debriefing, simulation and flushing medications - and the Individual Integrated Skills Station Assessment Form.
• Verify participants' online NRP exam certificate of completion at the start of the course.
• Record participant information clearly on a roster sheet.
• Submit your roster to the NRP database, following these step-by-step instructions.
• First-time NRP participants will receive an email (which sometimes goes to junk) with instructions on how to log into the NLS portal and print their NRP card. Renewing participants will NOT receive an email. They can login to their existing account in the database.

Teaching NRP Instructor Courses

• NRP Instructor trainers (IT) can teach NRP Instructor courses and supervise, or nominate a delegate to supervise, team-teaches.
• Provide participants with the Instructor Registration Form and ensure they understand the registration process.

FAQs

• I am moving to another province. Will my NRP Instructor status be recognized there?

  NRP Instructor status is portable across Canada. However, given the provincial and territorial differences in process, Instructors and Instructor Trainers should contact the local provincial or regional NRP administration as eligibility criteria may differ across jurisdictions.  Some jurisdictions require incoming Instructors to team teach before delivering courses in their institutions. Instructors who are relocating to the United States will need to contact local or state representatives as the requirements and mandatory resources are different.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• Will the CPS register courses that are delivered outside Canada?

  The CPS does not routinely register NRP Providers outside Canada. Exceptions have been made by prior arrangement with the Canadian NRP Steering Committee to assist jurisdictions that use Canadian materials and do not yet have the capacity to maintain their own NRP infrastructure.

  NRP Instructors with current registration with the CPS who deliver Instructor or Provider courses outside of Canada can apply to have the course included in the CPS database. The course can be accepted by the CPS if:

  • It is supported by a Canadian educational institution,
  • Uses Canadian NRP Instructors as faculty, and
  • The Canadian version of NRP is taught.

  The Canadian Instructors can then register themselves as having delivered that course for the purpose of maintaining their Instructor status.

  The CPS does not have any jurisdiction over health care providers outside Canada. Canadian NRP Instructors who teach outside Canada should make themselves aware of local organizations that might oversee neonatal resuscitation education. When teaching NRP, it should be made clear that the NRP is an educational program and that students outside of Canada will not receive a provider card. Successful completion of the program does not imply certification or clinical competence.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• How long should NRP Provider courses be?

  Individual courses will vary in both length and specific content according to the participants’ learning needs.  For example, participants who are members of a regional transport team may identify the need to practice intubation and umbilical venous catheter insertion. They would need to successfully complete skills stations, integrated skills stations (along with individual ISSA), and simulation and debriefing exercises relevant to these learning needs.

  Courses both essential and advanced instructor-led courses should take at least 4 hours. New learners may need to dedicate greater amounts of time to performance skills stations (i.e. checking the equipment, initial steps, medication administration, effective positive pressure ventilation, etc.) but courses must still include the requisite components: performance skills stations, integrated skills stations and simulation and debriefing. More experienced learners may wish to dedicate more time to simulation and debriefing exercises.

  Tailoring each NRP course to meet the learning needs of the participants is an important educational concept in NRP. Logistics and timing of each course may vary depending on learner needs but will lead to more efficient and relevant courses.

  Revised: September 28, 2021

• What is the suggested ratio of NRP Instructors to participants in NRP Provider courses?

  Tthe suggested ratio is 1 instructor for every 3-4 participants.

  Revised: September 28, 2021

• What is meant by "team teaching"?

  “Team teaching” is an important last step in the process of becoming an NRP Instructor. Team teaching should occur within 6 months of attending the Instructor course.

  The learning environment for teaching should be an NRP Provider course. Team teaching is a learning experience for the Instructor candidate during which a preceptor observes, debriefs and provides constructive feedback to the Instructor candidate.  Occasionally, Instructor candidates will need more than one team teaching experience – successful completion of a team teach is at the discretion of the preceptor.

  The preceptor should be an NRP Instructor-Trainer (IT) or an experienced NRP Instructor (Delegate), designated by an IT. 

  The team teaching course is not counted as one of the three courses an Instructor needs to teach every three years.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• How do we deal with a learner who requires re-evaluation of their Integrated Skills Station Assessment (ISSA)?

  Suggested solutions for a learner who requires re-evaluation of the ISSA include:

  • debriefing with the participant, and troubleshooting to discover where the problem(s) arose;
  • a period of review, supervised practice and coaching to address the problems;
  • re-testing with a different Instructor.

  Readiness and competence for clinical practice are determined by healthcare employers and regulatory bodies, and not through participation in an NRP course, which is an educational tool. In addition, the ISSA does not test competence - it tests the ability to perform in a simulation-based learning activity.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• What happens if a participant had to miss an NRP Provider course and the next course they can attend is after the 30-day period for having passed the online exam?

  In such cases, the Instructor should use his or her discretion based on the individual circumstances, such as how much they have surpassed the 30-day period, and their reason for missing the original class. The 30-day period is intended to ensure that the participants have read the textbook and will have the information fresh in their minds.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• What happens if a participant comes to an NRP Provider course without taking the online exam?

  In such cases, the Instructor should use his or her discretion based on the individual circumstances.  Should the Instructor deem that the participant has not prepared adequately for the course and / or has limited background and experience in perinatal or neonatal care, it would be entirely appropriate to not admit them to the course.  If the Instructor is satisfied that the individual has prepared for the course and there were extenuating circumstances for not completing the online exam, they may use discretion in allowing them into the course.  In such cases, the learner cannot be entered onto the course roster or be eligible for registration as a Provider with the CPS until proof of successful completion is provided to the Instructor.  Verification must follow no later than 1 month after the course and may be sooner if directed by the Instructor.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• Can an organization pay for multiple NRP Instructor registrations?

  Yes. Organizations may do so by completing an Instructor Registration Form for each Instructor and then forwarding all the forms, along with payment for each Instructor.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• I don't teach NRP courses - I lead simulation-based learning exercises, do these count as NRP courses?

  No. In order for learners to complete recognized NRP training, they are required to complete all components of the course, these being successful completion of the online exam ahead of face-to-face course attendance.

  The face-to-face NRP course includes practical skills stations that focus on the acquisition of individual taskwork skills, completion of an objective evaluation (Integrated Skills Station Assessment [ISSA]) and a simulation and debriefing exercise which focuses on teamwork skills. Simulation-based learning is just one aspect of the NRP course and in order to have successfully completed NRP training, learners must complete all components described above.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021

• How long do we keep documentation? (i.e. confidentiality agreements, ISSA, etc.)

  Given the registration requirements of the National Steering Committee and the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), it is suggested that Instructors or institutions keep the following documents (paper or digital format) on file for a period of 3 years:

  • A completed course roster (either one completed by the participants in class or a copy of the roster submitted electronically to CPS).
  • Documentation that verifies each participant's successful completion of the online examination (e.g., a copy of each participant’s ‘Online Examination Verification’ of 'Certificate of Completion').
  • Documentation that verifies each participant's successful completion of the ISSA (e.g., a copy of each participant's ISSA). If remediation is required to assist the learner complete the ISSA following the course, a copy of the actual ISSA form should be retained.

  *In order to assure participants that privacy and confidentiality during the simulation and debriefing exercise, it has been suggested that a signed copy of the ‘Confidentiality Agreement’ with all participants’ signatures  be kept for a period of one year.

  Individual institutions may have guidelines for managing personnel records so Instructors are encouraged to consult their manager or risk management/quality assurance department.
  
  If you have applied for continuing education credits for a course, the granting body may have specific requirements - please check with them for details.

  Reaffirmed: September 28, 2021