Occupational Therapy Nursing Course
Take your nursing practice to the next level by mastering the principles and techniques of occupational therapy. This course equips registered nurses with the clinical skills to assess functional limitations, design rehabilitation interventions, and support patient independence across every care setting. Whether you work in acute care, rehabilitation, or community health, this training gives you the tools to deliver more complete, patient-centred care.
What you will learn:
This course covers the full scope of occupational therapy nursing, from foundational OT frameworks and human anatomy to condition-specific rehabilitation and discharge planning. You will learn how to assess activities of daily living, apply evidence-based interventions, and use standardised tools across neurological, orthopaedic, psychiatric, and palliative care populations. The curriculum also addresses lifespan considerations, interprofessional communication, telehealth delivery, and burnout prevention. By the end, you will be prepared to integrate OT principles directly into your nursing practice and improve measurable patient outcomes.
How you study in practice Occupational Therapy Nursing Course
How you practise Occupational Therapy Nursing Course
For companies looking to train their team
With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the specific needs of your company.
Course content
8 Chapters • 35 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)
Chapter 1HideHide detailsSee detailsFoundations of Occupational Therapy in Nursing
Foundations of Occupational Therapy in Nursing
Lesson 1 • Roles and Responsibilities in OT Nursing
Defines the nurse's role within OT-integrated care teams. Clarifies boundaries, collaboration expectations, and accountability.
Lesson 2 • Key OT Frameworks and Models
Introduces major OT conceptual models used to guide clinical reasoning. Connects theoretical models to nursing assessment and care planning.
Lesson 3 • Ethical and Legal Principles in OT Nursing
Covers ethical decision-making and regulatory compliance relevant to OT nursing. Grounds practice in patient rights and professional standards.
Lesson 4 • History and Philosophy of Occupational Therapy
Traces OT's origins and guiding values within healthcare. Provides context for understanding OT's role alongside nursing practice.
Chapter 2HideHide detailsSee detailsHuman Anatomy and Functional Movement
Human Anatomy and Functional Movement
Lesson 1 • Musculoskeletal System Overview
Reviews bones, joints, and muscles relevant to daily functional tasks. Establishes the anatomical basis for OT nursing assessments.
Lesson 2 • Functional Anatomy of the Upper Extremity
Focuses on hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder anatomy for ADL performance. Directly supports upper-extremity rehabilitation planning.
Lesson 3 • Neurological Basis of Movement
Explains how the nervous system controls voluntary and reflexive movement. Links neurological function to occupational performance capacity.
Lesson 4 • Posture, Balance, and Gait Analysis
Examines postural control and gait mechanics as foundations for mobility. Prepares nurses to identify movement dysfunction affecting daily activities.
Chapter 3HideHide detailsSee detailsOccupational Performance and Activities of Daily Living
Occupational Performance and Activities of Daily Living
Lesson 1 • Assessing Basic ADL Performance
Teaches standardised tools for measuring self-care independence. Connects assessment scores to nursing care planning decisions.
Lesson 2 • Instrumental ADL Evaluation
Addresses complex daily tasks such as meal preparation and medication management. Builds skills for identifying community-living support needs.
Lesson 3 • Occupation-Based Goal Setting
Guides nurses in writing measurable, occupation-focused patient goals. Ensures goals reflect patient priorities and functional outcomes.
Lesson 4 • Defining Occupational Performance Areas
Classifies ADLs, IADLs, work, leisure, and social participation. Provides a taxonomy for structuring patient-centred care goals.
Chapter 4HideHide detailsSee detailsOccupational Therapy Assessment Techniques
Occupational Therapy Assessment Techniques
Lesson 1 • Principles of OT Assessment
Establishes reliability, validity, and clinical utility criteria for assessment selection. Frames assessment as an ongoing, dynamic nursing process.
Lesson 2 • Sensory and Motor Assessment
Teaches evaluation of sensation, strength, coordination, and fine motor skills. Provides data for designing targeted therapeutic interventions.
Lesson 3 • Documenting and Reporting Assessment Findings
Establishes standards for recording and communicating OT assessment data. Ensures accurate, legally defensible clinical documentation.
Lesson 4 • Cognitive and Perceptual Assessment
Covers tools for evaluating cognition, perception, and executive function. Links cognitive deficits to specific occupational performance barriers.
Lesson 5 • Psychosocial and Environmental Assessment
Evaluates emotional well-being, social roles, and physical environment factors. Integrates psychosocial data into holistic OT nursing care plans.
Chapter 5HideHide detailsSee detailsTherapeutic Interventions and Rehabilitation Techniques
Therapeutic Interventions and Rehabilitation Techniques
Lesson 1 • Neurodevelopmental and Motor Relearning Approaches
Presents neuroplasticity-based techniques for motor recovery after injury. Prepares nurses to support motor relearning in rehabilitation settings.
Lesson 2 • Splinting and Orthotic Principles
Covers basic splint types, purposes, and application in OT nursing. Connects orthotic use to functional goals and skin integrity monitoring.
Lesson 3 • Therapeutic Use of Occupation and Activity
Applies meaningful occupations as the primary medium for rehabilitation. Distinguishes purposeful activity from rote exercise in OT nursing.
Lesson 4 • Assistive Technology and Adaptive Equipment
Introduces devices and tools that enhance occupational performance. Guides nurses in recommending and training patients on adaptive equipment.
Lesson 5 • Compensatory Strategies and Adaptive Techniques
Teaches task modification and alternative methods to restore independence. Addresses patients who cannot fully recover prior function.
Chapter 6HideHide detailsSee detailsOT Nursing Across the Lifespan
OT Nursing Across the Lifespan
Lesson 1 • Adult Rehabilitation and Return to Work
Targets work-related functional restoration and community reintegration. Links OT nursing interventions to vocational and productivity outcomes.
Lesson 2 • Geriatric OT Nursing and Aging in Place
Addresses age-related functional decline and fall prevention strategies. Prepares nurses to support older adults in maintaining home independence.
Lesson 3 • Paediatric OT Nursing Considerations
Addresses developmental milestones and childhood occupational roles. Prepares nurses to support children with developmental or acquired conditions.
Lesson 4 • Adolescent and Young Adult OT Needs
Focuses on school performance, social participation, and transition planning. Connects OT nursing to vocational and independent living preparation.
Chapter 7HideHide detailsSee detailsCondition-Specific OT Nursing Practice
Condition-Specific OT Nursing Practice
Lesson 1 • Cardiopulmonary Conditions and OT Nursing
Applies energy conservation and activity pacing to cardiac and pulmonary patients. Prepares nurses to grade activity safely within medical parameters.
Lesson 2 • Neurological Conditions and OT Nursing
Covers OT nursing for stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Builds competency in neurological rehabilitation goal setting.
Lesson 3 • Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Conditions
Addresses OT nursing for fractures, joint replacements, and arthritis. Connects precautions and protocols to functional recovery planning.
Lesson 4 • Mental Health and Psychiatric OT Nursing
Integrates OT principles into psychiatric nursing for functional recovery. Addresses occupational role disruption caused by mental health conditions.
Lesson 5 • Palliative and End-of-Life OT Nursing
Applies OT nursing to maximise quality of life in palliative care settings. Focuses on comfort, dignity, and meaningful occupation near end of life.
Chapter 8HideHide detailsSee detailsCare Planning, Discharge, and Outcomes
Care Planning, Discharge, and Outcomes
Lesson 1 • Discharge Planning and Transition of Care
Prepares nurses to coordinate safe, function-focused discharge transitions. Addresses home, community, and long-term care placement decisions.
Lesson 2 • Developing Integrated OT Nursing Care Plans
Synthesises assessment data into structured, occupation-focused care plans. Aligns nursing diagnoses with OT intervention priorities.
Lesson 3 • Measuring Outcomes and Quality Improvement
Introduces outcome measurement tools and quality improvement cycles in OT nursing. Connects data-driven evaluation to continuous practice improvement.
Lesson 4 • Implementing and Monitoring Interventions
Guides nurses in executing care plans and tracking patient progress. Establishes criteria for modifying interventions based on outcomes.
Your valid completion certificate
This course is for you:
Registered nurses: seeking to expand into functional rehabilitation and recovery roles.
Licensed practical nurses: wanting structured OT knowledge to strengthen daily patient care.
Nursing students: preparing for careers in rehabilitation, geriatrics, or community health settings.
Care coordinators: needing OT frameworks to improve discharge planning and transition outcomes.
Rehabilitation aides: building foundational knowledge to advance toward nursing or therapy roles.
Community health nurses: looking to address functional independence in non-hospital care environments.
What our students say
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