Regulatory Requirements

Below is information you need about maintaining licensure eligibility, code of ethics, standards of practice, and fees.

Maintain licensure eligibility

The following guidelines have been approved by Council. They are the requirements for an RPN to maintain licensure eligibility.

Hours Requirements

A Registered Psychiatric Nurse must:
a. have worked in psychiatric nursing activities approved by the College for at least 1400 hours in the five-year period immediately preceding the date of application for the year in which licensure is sought; or
b. have worked in psychiatric nursing activities approved by the College for at least 560 hours in the two-year period immediately preceding the date of application for the year in which licensure is sought; and
c. hold a practicing membership with the College, or a regulatory body recognized by the College, while working in approved psychiatric nursing activities for these hours to contribute to eligibility for licensure; or
d. have graduated from an CRPNS-approved program of psychiatric nursing within four years immediately preceding date of application for renewal of active status. The time spent as orientation to a job will be counted.
Job descriptions shall be obtained when necessary to evaluate eligibility of hours.
In calculating eligible hours only actual hours worked will be considered. No “on call”, or leave of any type (vacation, leave of absence, maternity, education, disability) may be calculated as hours worked. For overtime and statuatory holidays, only count straight hours worked can be counted.
Hours worked as a registered psychiatric nurse in positions approved as the practice of psychiatric nursing may be in one of the following domains of practice: direct care nursing, administration, research, or education.
Volunteer hours for unpaid activities may be considered for eligible hours. Prior written requests must be made and member participation will be assessed by the registrar on an individual basis.
Other written requests for hour recognition will be reviewed by the registrar on an individual basis according to legislation and policies.

Career-Long Learning Program

A Registered Psychiatric Nurse must meet the College’s continuing education requirements. This is achieved through participating in the Career-Long Learning Program (CLP) each year.

Information and forms for completing the CLP each year can be found on the Career-Long Learning page.

Character Requirements

A Registered Psychiatric Nurse must immediately disclose any criminal charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada), any outstanding allegations or findings of professional incompetence and/or misconduct in relation to the profession of psychiatric nursing and/or any other profession in any province, territory, state or country.
Where a criminal record or complaint exists, an RPN may be required to submit addition details or documentation as prescribed by the Registrar.

Practice requirements

A Registered Psychiatric Nurse must comply with all applicable legislation as well as:
a. CRPNS Bylaws,
b. Code of Ethics,
c. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice,
d. competencies, and
e. guidelines for practice

Audits

It is the CRPNS’s responsibilty and obligation to ensure compliance with the RPN Act. One of the ways in which CRPNS accomplishes this is to verify that registrants are meeting regulatory requirements. Registrants that are seleceted for verifications and audits must respond to the College with the required information.

Independent Practice

Registrants that engage in the provision of psychiatric nursing services while self-employed in independent practice, or as an employee of an entity that is substantially controlled by an indvidual must meet the regulatory requirements as outlined in the CRPNS bylaws.

Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics articulates ethical principles, values and standards to guide all members of the psychiatric nursing profession. The Code defines accepted behaviors and establishes a framework for professional responsibility and accountability. The Code promotes high standards of practice and provides a benchmark for psychiatric nurses to use for self-evaluation. The Code of Ethics identifies the obligations of the profession and the obligations of individual psychiatric nurses to society.

The Core Values that provide the framework for this Code of Ethics are professional accountability, unconditional respect, wholistic health, quality practice milieu.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Registered Psychiatric Nurses:

Differentiate between professional and personal relationships.
Establish therapeutic relationships.
Recognize potential vulnerability of all persons.
Practice within their level of competence.
Use evidence-based practice.
Use continuing competence throughout their professional career.
Maintain a personal level of health and mental health.
Provide competent, safe and ethical care.
Protect the confidentiality of all information obtained as a result of professional relationships.
Demonstrate professional practice that reflects honesty, integrity, reliability, impartiality and diligence.
Demonstrate professional judgment when accepting and delegating responsibilities.
Report incompetent or unethical behaviors of care providers.
Accept responsibility for own practice and minimize harm arising from adverse events.
Refrain from endorsement of products or services.
Promote the psychiatric nursing profession.
Practice according to provincial and federal legislation and Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice.
Understand, promote and uphold the ethical values of the profession.

UNCONDITIONAL RESPECT

Registered Psychiatric Nurses:

Promote respect, autonomy, rights, diversity and choice of all people.
Demonstrate advocacy.
Respect the diversity and unique beliefs of all people
Know, apply and uphold the elements of informed consent.

WHOLISTIC HEALTH

Registered Psychiatric Nurses:

Respect the rights, needs and values of each person.
Recognize that health and mental health are an interconnected and dynamic process.
Comprehend that unique lifestyles and expectations influence health and mental health.
Endorse collaborative and wholistic approaches to health and mental health from promotion, prevention, intervention, rehabilitation to recovery.
Promote research and evidence -based psychiatric nursing practice.
Respect and value collaborative and shared-care.

QUALITY PRACTICE MILIEU

Registered Psychiatric Nurses:

Recognize that community, socio-economic and political system environments influence health and mental health.
Contribute to quality practice settings by modeling positive, healthy and ethical conduct.
Contribute to and maintain safe practice environments.
Advocate for sufficient resources to provide safe and competent psychiatric nursing practice.
Advocate for fair and equitable access to benefits and treatment for all people.

Standards of practice

Below is a link to download a PDF of the Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice (2019). These standards were revised and updated for national use by the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada and adopted by the CRPNS Council November 30, 2019.

The Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice (2019) outlines in broad terms the expected level of performance of all RPNs. The Standards come into effect December 15, 2019 and replace the 2010 Standards document.

Fees

Psychiatric Nurses Pledge

I do hereby pledge my commitment to the psychiatric nursing profession and those entrusted to my care — endeavouring at all times to meet the holistic needs of the individual.

I will strive to gain knowledge through continuing education for the betterment of myself and my profession.

I will faithfully perform my duties and co-operate, within the bounds of my professional responsibility, with all whom I associate.

I acknowledge the dignity and challenge of my profession and accept the obligation it implies.

All of which I pledge on my honour.