FAQ – Registered Psychiatric Nurse
What is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)?
An RPN is an autonomous professional who works collaboratively with clients and other health care team members to coordinate health care and provide client-centred services to individuals, families, groups, and communities. RPNs focus on mental and neurodevelopmental health, mental illness, and addictions and use the nursing process and bio-psycho-social and spiritual models of assessment for a holistic approach to care.
Do RPNs complete a psychiatric nursing education program?
Yes. RPNs complete a psychiatric nursing education program from one of the approved psychiatric nursing education programs in Canada.
The psychiatric nursing education programs prepare entry-level RPNs to begin their practice in a variety of practice settings, with diverse populations, and across the lifespan. The practice environment plays a crucial role in the further development and consolidation of the entry-level competencies (ELCs).
Entry-level RPNs are prepared with a foundational knowledge of nursing and medical-surgical nursing practice. In addition to general medical-surgical nursing skills, RPN foundational education includes in-depth psychiatric, mental health, addiction-related and safety risk assessments, advanced communication skills and psychosocial interventions. Entry-level RPNs are prepared for medication management with education in both general and psychopharmacology. The psychiatric nursing education programs prepare RPNs to meet the ELCs for the profession and provides the foundation for RPNs to develop further competencies once they are in practice.
The breadth, depth, and focus on mental health and addictions and advanced therapeutic relationships and communication distinguish psychiatric nursing education from other nursing programs.
Are RPNs baccalaureate or diploma prepared?
RPNs graduate from a baccalaureate program or a three-year equivalent diploma in psychiatric nursing. Their education prepares them to meet the ELCs for RPNs. Individuals must pass the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada Examination (RPNCE) and meet the requirements of the regulatory body before being licenced in their respective jurisdiction. For information related to registration and licensure, please refer to the College’s Registration and Renewal page.
Where do RPNs practise?
The practice of psychiatric nursing occurs within the domains of direct care, education, administration, policy development, and research. RPNs work with clients whose primary care needs relate to mental health, addictions, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. RPNs practise in a variety of settings. Some examples include:
- Acute care hospitals
- Child and adolescent treatment programs
- Long-term psychiatric facilities
- Crisis teams and suicide prevention
- Community mental health programs
- Community outreach
- Substance use disorder/addiction programs
- Correctional health programs
Is an RPN the same as a Registered Nurse (RN)?
No. RPNs are not the same as RNs. RPNs have a specialized body of knowledge of mental health and mental illness as well as foundational knowledge from biological and nursing sciences, and they possess a range of general medical and surgical nursing competencies.
What are some common psychiatric nursing interventions that an RPN can perform at entry-level?
The therapeutic use of self is foundational to the therapeutic relationship that RPNs have with clients to deliver care and psychosocial interventions. RPNs can provide complex psychiatric nursing interventions which include but are not limited to:
- Facilitating group process
- Conflict resolution
- Psychotherapies
- Crisis interventions
- Individual, group, and family counselling
- Assertiveness training
- Somatic therapies
- Pre- and post- electroconvulsive care
What are some common nursing interventions that an RPN can perform at entry-level?
RPNs can perform required nursing interventions to address physical conditions, including but not limited to:
- Intravenous therapy
- Drainage tubes
- Care and maintenance of enteric feeding tubes
- Enterostomal therapy
- Skin and simple/complex wound care
- Metabolic screening
- Management of withdrawal symptoms
- Medication administration (oral and parenteral)
- Urinary catheterizations
Where can I find more information about RPNs in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)?
Information about RPN registration in NL is available on the College’s website. Please refer to the Registration and Renewal page. For more information related to the Standards of Practice for RPNs, Scope of Practice, and Code of Ethics, please refer to the Practice Topics page.