FAQs
Frequently asked questions about the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program
Who is a psychiatric nurse?
The Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) is a professional who focuses care on individuals, families, groups, communities, and the environment toward the aim of promoting health and well-being. Specialization in mental health and psychiatry prepare the RPN with knowledge and skills to care for clients of all ages in a variety of facilities including acute and extended care, boarding homes, prisons, the community, and private practice ventures. The practice of Registered Psychiatric Nursing involves partnerships with clients and other health professionals in multidisciplinary treatment team environments. The RPN works within the scope of practice outlined in the standards and competencies of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia, and legislation enacted by the Health Professions Act. Currently RPNs are employed at various levels of healthcare service delivery as direct caregivers, nurse clinicians, counselors, case managers in tertiary health care facilities and community, directors of care facilities including hospitals, post secondary educators at colleges or universities or private entrepreneurs.
How do I become a psychiatric nurse?
To achieve this goal, you need to receive formal psychiatric nursing education from a recognized educational institution. You can become a psychiatric nurse by joining the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC, Canada. The Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s BPN program is a 3.75 year bachelor’s degree program that provides you with necessary knowledge and skills required to work as a RPN. All successful graduates from the BPN program are eligible to take the RPN licensing examination in B.C.
What are the requisites needed for the BPN program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University?
Please refer to the online calendar for details.
How do I find an excellent program for psychiatric nursing education?
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is an accredited University which offers an excellent 3.75 year Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing Program as depicted in the program description on its website. BPN is a program that has been approved by the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia (CRPNBC) and the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education.
Is it possible for me to specialize within psychiatric nursing?
The Kwantlen BPN program facilitates various specializations within the field of mental health and its service delivery in Canada and the world. Nursing specializations that can be accomplished through our program are forensic psychiatric services (mentally ill offenders), community and advanced psychiatric nursing practice.
Do psychiatric nurses go for masters or doctoral degrees?
In the 21st century, the field of psychiatric nursing is ever expanding while psychiatric nursing practice is increasingly becoming evidence-based. Evidence to support nursing practice is obtained through well-grounded research which is becoming an integral part of psychiatric nursing. This is supported by revolutionary discoveries in nursing, medicine and neurosciences. In adapting advanced knowledge through research and professional development, psychiatric nurses achieve the educational and practice competencies for master's degrees and PhD levels. These nurses could become educators in post-secondary education, nurse researchers, psychotherapists and private counselors or discover new service areas for psychiatric nursing.
Is psychiatric nursing a regulated profession?
In order to practice in British Columbia as a RPN, you must obtain registration/membership through the College of the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia which is the regulatory body for the profession in the province. When you are registered, you are also recognized in all western provinces of Canada, a few states in the United States, and most of the British Commonwealth countries including Australia United Kingdom and New Zealand. You may have to write registration examination if you choose to work outside British Columbia & Alberta.
Would a RPN have the same recognition as a RN?
Yes, RPNs and RNs have the same professional recognition in BC, Alberta and other western provinces in Canada. Often, RPNs and RNs work together for the same pay and for the same employer bearing same or similar responsibilities. In the province of British Columbia there are two separate labor unions for RPNs and RNs namely the Union of Psychiatric Nurses (UPN) and the British Columbia Nurses Union (BCNU) respectively. However, there are RPNs who are members of the BCNU or the Health Sciences Association (HAS) in B.C. Further, psychiatric nursing is a specialized area of nursing. A RPN is competent to carry out general nursing duties along with specialized mental health nursing.
How do I make the choice to go in to psychiatric nursing or general nursing?
Prior to registration, often it is meaningful to get involved with some volunteer work in service delivery agencies, hospitals or community mental health programs such as detox centres or group homes, where you gain some firsthand experience with individuals or families with psychiatric problems and learn about the services provided by mental health professionals. With such experience you should be able to make a decision pertaining to your student nursing career. As a psychiatric nurse, you are expected to be a very good communicator since communication plays a significant role in the therapy for people with psychiatric disabilities.
What kind of salary do psychiatric nurses make?
In the province of British Columbia a RPN usually starts at an annual salary range of $ 51,000 to $ 62,000, in par with RN salary range. There may be additional bonuses in northern geographic locations. In addition, the benefit packages for nurses are quite attractive. The next contract for RPNs (under UPN) is at par with the BCNU contract. Salary also varies depending on the grid level of the contract which has levels from 4 – 9.
Is there a psychiatric nursing shortage?
In the province of British Columbia alone there is and will be an acute shortage of nurses in the years to come. According to the Canadian Nurses Association, Canada will have a shortage of 78,000 registered nurses by 2011 and up to 113,000 by 2016. This shortage includes registered psychiatric nurses.
As a practicing RPN how do I return to complete my Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing?
Please contact the Program Coordinator gamini.randeni@kwantlen.ca. You need to register with the BPN degree completion program as a returning RPN student. Then, you complete CAHS 3500 – Access Course that prepares you for degree completion. Some of the work experience you have gained as a RPN and courses you have completed as part of your professional development may be credited based on a process called Prior Learning Assessment. Once you are enrolled as a BPN student, you would join semester 5 and continue. As a returning RPN, you have the choice of taking courses offered in semester 5, 6 & 7 to suit your work schedule. Most courses are offered in the evenings.
How can I find out more about psychiatric nursing?
Libraries and on-line resources are the best vehicle for journal articles and books about the specialty of psychiatric nursing. For information, visit www.crpnbc.ca and www.kwantlen.ca/library
- Top -
