Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice
This document comes into effect on January 1, 2025.
Psychiatric Nursing in Canada
Over 6,000 Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) are now working in Canada. RPNs are autonomous professionals. They work collaboratively with clients and other health care team members to coordinate health care and provide client-centered services to individuals, families, groups and communities. RPNs focus on mental and developmental health, mental illness, and addictions, and take a holistic approach to care that integrates physical, biopsychosocial and spiritual models of care. Psychiatric nursing is committed to the prevention of illness and to the promotion and maintenance of optimal health, rehabilitation and recovery. RPNs work within the domains of direct practice, education, administration and research. The core of psychiatric nursing practice is therapeutic communication and the therapeutic relationship. Emotion, behaviour and cognition are a major focus of RPN practice. Many psychotherapeutic interventions are performed through the psychiatric nurse’s interaction with the client (Austin & Boyd, 2019).
The Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice
The Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice sets out the minimum acceptable level of performance required of a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. These standards articulate the legal and professional obligations of all RPNs. They apply to all practice settings, domains and roles, regardless of an individual RPN’s educational preparation or professional experience. It is the professional responsibility of each Registered Psychiatric Nurse to know, understand and adhere to these standards.
Throughout this guide, indicators illustrate how to meet each standard. These indicators are representative but not comprehensive. In actual practice, specific indicators may vary according to the situation and context of the psychiatric nurses’ role. It is the professional responsibility of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse to articulate how they meet each standard.