The Emergency Practice, Interventions and Care – Canada (EPICC) Program is Canada’s National Emergency Nursing course endorsed by the National Emergency Nurses Association (NENA).   It is based on the NENA Core Competencies of the Emergency Nurse.

The program is split into three functional areas:

The Theme of EPICC

EPICC is more than a course, it is an experience with the ultimate goal being to develop the emergency practitioners mindset in approaching all emergency department patients.  In the context of the safe learning environment, EPICC has three fundamental tenets:

It is important to understand the differentiation between high-fidelity and high-technology.  High-fidelity is the realism of a situation, high-technology is the ‘fanciness’ of simulation mannikins.  EPICC uses high-fidelity simulation and in some environments may incorporate high-technology mannikins.

EPICC uses evidence-based learning and assessment methods to fully engage the adult learner.  Theoretical content is learned online before attending the course.  The programs use mixed learning methods of small and large group case studies and simulation – there is no powerpoint-style learning at the attended sessions.  The programs leverage the “community”…when everyone is together at a course, we believe that learners should be interacting, not watching lectures.

There are currently four programs under the EPICC umbrella.  Please choose one for further information.

Landon James, RN, BSN, MA, PCP, CEN

Managing Editor & Project Leader

Monique McLaughlin, RN, BSN, MSN, NP-F

Managing Editor & Facilitator Development Leader

Mélanie Marceau, RN, BSN, MSN, PhD(c)

Lead Editor & Scientific Leader

Brian Lee, RN, BSN

Lead Editor

Denis Bouchard, RN

Lead Editor & Official Languages Leader

Development Process

EPICC is a continually evolving program with new courses and revisions to current content being performed simultaneously.  The program began in 2015 with a curriculum design process and brainstorming session.

For the first program (EPICC-Foundations) development of online learning content occurred in the Summer of 2015 with a review period into 2016.  EPICC-Trauma content development began in October 2016 and is currently being reviewed for final publication.

The EPICC-Foundations program had the following development process:

• May 2015-October 2015 – Curriculum and Content Design/Production
• October 2015 – Design Team Meeting
• December 2015 –  Curriculum and Methods Test Group with 24 Experienced Nurse Educators
• January 2016 – Design Team Meeting
• February 2016 – Test Course with Mixture of Student Experience
• March 2016 – Test Course with Mixture of Student Experience
• May 2016 – Release of Course in English and French
• 2016-2017 – Minor Revisions to Online and In-Person Content

The EPICC-Trauma Program has the following development process:

• May 2016-November 2016 – Curriculum Design and Online Content Production
• December 2016 – Design Team Meeting
• February 2017 – Focused test of Some Content
• April 2017 – Test Course #1 and #2
• July 2017 – Test Course #3
• September 2017 – Anticipated Release of Course in English and French

The process for both courses has had well-over 100 nurses involved in various capacities from authors to content reviewers to test students.

The newest project, EPICC-Pediatrics, has a proposed timeline below and is subject to change as the project progresses.

• July 28, 2017 –  Project Team and Content Developer Applications Due
• August 31, 2017 – Tentative Finalization of Core Competencies of Program
• September-October 2017 – Content Development
• November 2017 – Peer Review
• February-March 2018 – Test Courses
• April-May 2018 – Proposed Release