Psychiatric Nursing: Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing
Description
The program is recognized by the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia (CRPNBC).
The purpose of the program is to educate learners to be competent, creative and caring practitioners of psychiatric/mental health nursing, who apply their creativity and critical thinking skills in the roles of direct care provider, educator, clinician, researcher, manager and/or entrepreneur.
Learners have opportunities to develop sensitivity to people's experiences with health and healing. Practicing within the psychiatric nurse's professional role, learners work as partners with individuals, families, groups, communities, and with other health care providers. Through their understanding of and participation in the changing health care system, graduates will be active participants in promoting health.
Learners complete eight (8) academic semesters to graduate with a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (BPN) degree. Graduates will be eligible to apply to write national examinations to obtain registration to practice as Registered Psychiatric Nurses in British Columbia. Access to degree completion by Registered Psychiatric Nurses is outlined separately.
The curriculum of the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program is based on the concepts of caring, teaching, learning, health, growth, change, and facilitative leadership. The program includes a strong Liberal Education component with 42/121.5 credits of courses that complement psychiatric nursing theory and practice. The curriculum considers the changing health care needs of our society. Caring and communication are understood as the attitude and activities of psychiatric nursing and are considered in every nursing course.
A health promotion perspective has been used to organize the curriculum. This shift in focus from illness to health represents a deliberative move away from a medical model to an understanding of nurses' work as focusing on people and their experiences with health and healing. Inherent in this orientation is the use of teaching methodologies which encourage the development of critical thinking, and the discovery of personal meaning and personal power.
There is an emphasis on practice experiences as the foundation of psychiatric nursing theory and the recognition that nurses' work requires thoughtful, reflective action as defined by the concept of praxis. To assist in actualizing the concept of praxis, nursing practice experiences have been integrated throughout the program of studies. The concept of praxis is used to guide learners to critically reflect on their practice and on their application of psychiatric nursing knowledge and clinical judgment within the practice setting.
Learners who enrol in the program will receive a learner resource manual that provides information regarding program policies. Learners are responsible for familiarizing themselves with University policies and Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program policies.
Nursing Practice Experiences
Psychiatric/mental health nursing practice experiences are essential in the BPN program. Learners will be directly involved with clients in their homes and in institutional and community settings in each semester. These experiences may involve evenings and weekends. Practice experiences occur throughout the Lower Mainland, and learners may choose to have placements beyond the Lower Mainland including international placements. Learners are responsible for their own transportation and other expenses incurred as part of these experiences.
Some agencies may require learners to take an Oath of Confidentiality, have an additional criminal record search, or have a successful interview with their personnel prior to their agreement to accept the learner. Failure to have documentation acceptable to the agency at the time of placement may result in denial of the experience, which in turn may prevent completion of the program of studies.
Degree Completion for Registered Psychiatric Nurses
This option provides registered psychiatric nurses with access to Semester 5 for completion of a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing degree. Once admission requirements are met, registered psychiatric nurses complete the equivalent of four semesters of full-time study.
Note: Admission requires the completion of CAHS 3500.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program will be prepared to function as team members and leaders of mental health settings including forensic psychiatry, addiction facilities, acute care, intermediate and/or long term care hospitals, clinics, home care services, and various community healthcare centres.
Program Admission Requirements
Important Notice for Applicants
Learners are encouraged to complete the non-nursing courses prior to admission or during the semester in which they are scheduled. The workload of the program makes it difficult to take these courses at any other time.
Year One Admission:
In addition to Kwantlen's General university admission requirements including the undergraduate-level English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply.
- English 12 with a grade of B (or equivalent), or ENGL 1100 level with a grade of C (or equivalent)
- Principles of Mathematics 11 with a grade of C (or equivalent)
- Biology 12 and Chemistry 11 with a grade of C+ (or equivalent), or
BIOL 1110 with a grade of C (or equivalent)
Additional Requirements
Upon conditional acceptance to the program, additional admission requirements need to be completed prior to receiving final acceptance. These include:
- Standard First Aid and HCP-CPR Level C courses which are current at the time of entering the program. HCP-CPR certification must be current throughout the Program. (All costs and associated updates are the responsibility of the student).
- Immunizations consistent with the requirements of practice agencies. (All costs are the responsibility of the student).
- An acceptable criminal record review issued by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, completed within six months of enrolling in the program. The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia requires a criminal record search prior to registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and a criminal record search may also be a pre-practice requirement of some of the clinical agencies used during the program. (All costs related to having this search done are the responsibility of the student).
- If you are not a Canadian citizen, you are required to secure a Criminal Record Search with the Vulnerable Sector from your country of origin. This requirement is in addition to the Canadian Criminal Record Search with Vulnerable Sector through your application with the College of Registered Nurses of BC. Please contact the Office of Admissions for further direction on obtaining your criminal record check.
- An interview and/or letters of reference may be required.
Degree Completion for Registered Psychiatric Nurses
Admission into Semester 5 for registered psychiatric nurses is based on seat availability and the following program requirements:
- Successful completion of CAHS 3500
- Proof of practicing membership in the CRPNBC (which must remain current throughout the program).
- Submission of an official transcript indicating completion of a diploma in Psychiatric nursing program.
- Completion of a HCP-CPR level C course, which is current at the time of entering the program. (This must remain current throughout the program.)
- Immunizations consistent with the requirements of practice agencies.
- An interview and/or letter of reference, if requested.
Program Continuance Requirements
Learners in the program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.33 with no grade lower than C in all required courses, including electives.
Content
Completion of ENGL 1100 and ENGL 1204 (or equivalent 6 credits of undergraduate English) and two other undergraduate electives (3 credits each) are required for graduation.
Semester 1: Individuals and Their Health
Learners will explore the personal meaning of health, complete health assessments, and counsel individuals on health maintenance. They will examine select theoretical and conceptual frameworks addressing caring, mental health, and the role of the RPN in working with individuals. Health will be understood as a resource for living affected by social determinants. In contrast to emphasizing diagnoses and deficiencies, the learner will emphasize the therapeutic use of self and self-awareness in working with a client to improve their health by focusing on their potentials.
All of: |
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| PSYN 1100 | Individuals and Their Health | 5 credits | |
| BIOL 1160 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 credits | |
| ENGL 1100 | Writing, Reading and Thinking: An Introduction | 3 credits | |
| PSYC 1100 | Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes | 3 credits | |
Semester 2: Families and Their Health
Learners explore the concepts of family and family health using a broad definition of family, individuals within these units, and various family theories. These are studied in relation to the developmental conflicts associated with stages of growth, development, and losses within families. Challenges such as growth and development of families and of relationships of strangers to families will be explored. The effect of health challenges on the family and the individual within it will also be studied.
All of: |
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| PSYN 1200 | Families and Their Health : Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing | 5 credits | |
| ANTH 1100 | Social & Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits | |
| BIOL 1260 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 credits | |
| ENGL 1204 | Reading and Writing about Genre: An Introduction to Literature | 3 credits | |
Semester 3: Groups and Their Health
Learners will examine the stages of groups. Roles, relationships, challenges, and interventions for groups will be explored applying various theories. Students will apply select theories of group dynamics in co-leading small heterogeneous and homogeneous groups composed of persons experiencing mental health challenges. They will experience the role of the RPN in working through stages such as forming, norming, storming, and performing.
All of: |
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| PSYN 2100 | Groups and Their Health: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing | 6.5 credits | |
| PSYN 2120 | Pharmacology and Other Therapeutics: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing | 3 credits | |
| FINA 1170 | Photography I | 3 credits | |
| SOCI 1125 | Introduction to Society: Processes and Structures | 3 credits | |
One of: |
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| ANTH 2142 | First Nations Cultures of Canada | 3 credits | |
| CRIM 2330 | Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour | 3 credits | |
Semester 4: Acute Care
Learners will study and practice within the many forms of acute care to work with clients to maintain, restore, or improve the health of people in communities.
All of: |
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| PSYN 2200 | Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Acute Care as Community | 7 credits | |
| ANTH 2163 | Culture, Health and Well-Being | 3 credits | |
| WOMN 2200 | Footsteps of the Crone: Creative Teaching & Learning | 3 credits | |
| CAHS 3500 |
Nursing Concepts and Theories
(for returning RPNs only) |
4.5 credits | |
Semester 5: Community Health
In the fifth semester, learners will study and practice within the many forms of community and will apply community development models to work with communities to maintain, restore, or improve the health of people in communities. They will have practice in a variety of communities, including eldercare homes, retirement villages, community psychiatric and forensic units and prisons.
All of: |
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| PSYN 3100 | Community Health: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 7 credits | |
| PSYC 3920 | Aging | 3 credits | |
| WOMN 3100 | Conceptual Traps & Health Care | 3 credits | |
| PSYN 3120 | Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Health Care Economics, Leadership and Management | 3 credits | |
Semester 6: Environment, Global Problems and Health
Learners will apply nursing theory in identifying health challenges related to sources of environmental pollution. They will conduct assessments and epidemiological analysis of relationships among environment and health. Learners will engage in policy analysis and short- and long-term planning with families, groups, and communities. Health-related agencies will be the settings for clinical practice.
All of: |
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| PSYN 3200 | Global Problems and Health | 7 credits | |
| PSYN 3220 | Issues in Mental Health Nursing | 2 credits | |
| PSYN 3230 | Psychiatric/Mental Health: Nursing Research | 3 credits | |
| PSYN 3240 | Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis | 3 credits | |
Semester 7: Capstone Consolidation
Learners will practice in a variety of settings to integrate learning from previous nursing and non-nursing courses. They will work in small teams in the community providing psychotherapeutic care to individuals, families, and groups. Learners establish working contracts with their clients and provide therapeutic care in their nurse-client partnership. This will include advanced skills in interventions related to counselling, psychotherapy, or case management.
All of: |
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| PSYN 4100 | Capstone Course: Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing | 7 credits | |
| PHIL 3010 | Health Care Ethics | 3 credits | |
| SOCI 3345 | Social Policy in Context | 3 credits | |
Semester 8: Preceptorship
Learners participate in a preceptorship of their choice, based on availability of preferred placements. They will increase knowledge and skills to develop independence and confidence as a practitioner in the field of psychiatric/mental health nursing.
Required: |
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| PSYN 4200 | Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Preceptorship | 10 credits | |
Additional Requirements
Completion of ENGL 1100 and ENGL 1204 (or equivalent 6 credits of undergraduate English) and two other undergraduate electives (3 credits each) are required for graduation.
Graduation
Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (BPN).
