Competency Information

• Registered Psychiatric Nurses: Competency Profile for the Profession in Canada
  (263 Pages in pdf format).
  
  
• Competencies Expected of the Beginning Practitioner of Psychiatric Nursing
  
  

Standards for Registered Psychiatric Nurses

The development of standards for nursing practice is the first step toward the attainment of quality nursing care. The adoption of standards helps to clarify the psychiatric nurses' areas of accountability, since the standards provide the psychiatric nurse, the employer, other professionals, clients, and the general public with a basis for evaluating practice. Standards also define the nursing profession's accountability to the public.

In addition to the knowledge of standards, every psychiatric nurse must understand the rationale behind the standard as well as, the criteria expected and the factors against which performance is measured or evaluated.

Standards are a prerequisite to the evaluation of performance, since they provide a baseline for measurement. However, they must take into account independent, interdependent and dependent functions of psychiatric nurses, be suited to educational preparation and experience, and respect the freedom of informed choice.

Because standards must be broad enough to apply in any practice setting, the performance factors are given as basic guidelines. They may not be comprehensive for all situations and must lend themselves to further development and refinement by nurses so they are meaningful in the workplace. The psychiatric/mental health nurse's critical thinking, and fastidious use of theoretical knowledge, research, and nursing models provides a comprehensive nursing assessment and accurate client diagnosis. This allows for analysis of the reciprocal relationship between client, environment, health, and nursing.

Standards of Practice

The College has developed ten Standards for Practice as they apply to psychiatric/mental health nursing in British Columbia today. The first eight are basic level functions. The first four relate to the nursing process (assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation). Standards five through eight relate to professional development (legal, ethical, collaborative and growth). Standards nine and ten are advanced level functions (independent practice, and administrative/management). Two further advanced level standards are currently under development (research and education).

The standards document provides definitions and descriptions of basic and advanced psychiatric/mental health nursing practice. It defines the scope, functions, and roles of the practice of psychiatric/mental health nurses as well as the diverse settings in which they practice.

To view the complete Standards of Practice Document and the Code of Ethics in "PDF" format "click" on the logo in the "Downloads" section below. (adobe acrobat reader required)

Code of Ethics

The fundamental responsibility of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse is to assist clients to achieve and maintain optimal mental health, to alleviate suffering; and to promote mental health.

The Registered Psychiatric Nurse renders mental health nursing services to the individual, groups. family and community.

The ethics that guide this service evolve from beliefs held in common by members of the psychiatric nursing profession and the society within which it functions.

At the core of psychiatric nursing practice is the therapeutic relationship between the individual, family, group and/or community and the individual Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Establishing and maintaining a professional therapeutic relationship is the responsibility of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse, not the client, and every act or behaviour of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse must benefit the client. Above all, the Professional Code of Ethics is designed to provide guidance to protect the integrity of the therapeutic relationship.

The Code is divided into five sections representing areas of professional nursing obligation. Adoption of the Code reflects the efforts of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia and its members to accept responsibility for the values expressed.

Downloads

To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader "click" on the Get Acrobat Reader Symbol below.

College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of B.C.

CRPNBC Office

Suite #307 - 2502 St. Johns Street
Port Moody,
British Columbia
Canada
V3H 2B4
Tel: 604-931-5200
Fax: 604-931-5277
BC Toll Free: 1-800-565-2505

Board of Directors

Ross Stewart - Chair
Linda Moyneur - Vice-Chair
Michele Robson - Finance Officer
Paul Anderson - Director
Anna Helewka - Director
Judith Macrae - Director
Melodie Hull - Director
Lis Pedersen - Director
Carol Robinson, Director

Staff

Kyong-ae Kim,
Executive Director/Registrar / Registrar
Linda Syssoloff, Deputy Registrar/Practice Consultant
April Lightbown, Administrative Assistant
Cindy Nordquist, Administrative Assistant/Accounting

Email Addresses:

Kyong-ae Kim
April Lightbown
Cindy Nordquist
Linda Syssoloff