Psychiatric Nursing Frequently Asked Questions

Registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) form one of the largest single groups of regulated mental health professionals in western Canada. RPNs are key proponents of mental health promotion.

As a student in the Psychiatric Nursing advanced diploma program, you will collaborate with clients and other health care team members as you learn how to coordinate health care and provide client centered services to individuals, groups, families and communities.

You will learn how to help clients reach their full potential as they cope with mental illness, addictions, developmental, cognitive and physical challenges, as well as other psychiatric disorders.

This program differs from other programs because the focus is on mental health promotion, mental health challenges, stigma and comorbidities.

This program is known for its highly interactive and supportive environment. In addition, nearly half of the program hours are allocated to clinical practice education to prepare you for your upcoming career in psychiatric nursing.

Yes. This program is approved by the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS). The program is also recognized by the other three western Canadian provincial psychiatric nursing regulatory bodies (British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba) and the Yukon territory.

Yes. Registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) work in a variety of acute and community mental health settings as well as corrections, long-term care, home care, medical and convalescent units, and many other areas where direct client care may need to be provided.

In addition to a focus on mental health your education will prepare you to perform a variety of nursing skills including intravenous initiation, Foley catheter and nasogastric tube insertion, wound care, tracheostomy care, blood product administration, care of peripherally inserted central catheters, among others.

Yes. When you graduate from the Sask Polytech Psychiatric Nursing advanced diploma program you are eligible to apply for licensure to work as a graduate nurse until you pass the Registered Psychiatric Nurse of Canada Examination (RPNCE).

For more information visit the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada (RPNRC).

Once you graduate from the Sask Polytech Psychiatric Nursing advanced diploma program you are eligible to write the Registered Psychiatric Nurse of Canada Examination (RPNCE). Upon passing the RPNCE and registering with one of the provincial regulators, you can practice in the western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. RPNs also practice in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Currently psychiatric nurses must register through Alberta or Manitoba to practice in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.

The program balances theory with clinical practice education. Theory-based courses provide a strong foundation of knowledge, while practical labs, simulated learning and clinical practice education offer students opportunities to put theory to practice as they prepare for future employment as a registered psychiatric nurse (RPN).

The assessment tools used by the program include exams, quizzes, case studies, discussions, presentations (individual and group), reflective journals, portfolios, academic papers, etc.

The program uses the First Qualified First Admitted approach and accepts 40 students in Regina and 16 students in Saskatoon annually. Follow the link for more information on the admission process. The sooner you apply with all the necessary documentation (application form, transcripts, supporting documentation), the sooner you can qualify for admission to this program.

Registration is ongoing therefore you can apply to be admitted at any time.

Yes, you can apply to the program while in grade twelve (if you meet the admission requirements). You will need to submit all the necessary documentation including your high school transcripts as soon as possible.

Yes, ACCUPLACER is used by the Psychiatric Nursing advanced diploma program.

Year one of the program is offered at the Regina and Saskatoon campuses with a blended approach to learning using both face-to-face and synchronous online learning with Zoom as the primary software platform. Simulation lab experience prepares students for the 225 clinical practice education hours.

Year two of the program is delivered in the satellite sites of Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current and Yorkton. There are 495 clinical practice education hours in community and mental health care agencies. There are face-to-face labs, synchronous and asynchronous online learning with Zoom. Students are required to relocate to a satellite campus in year two and when possible, students are placed at the site they identify as their preference.

Year three (four months in length) of the program consists of 375 clinical practice education hours with a preceptor. Students are placed at practice education settings within Saskatchewan and are not on campus.

The Centre for Continuing Education has options which include:

• BIOL 102 Anatomy and Physiology 1
• BIOL 103 Anatomy and Physiology 2
• SOCI 171 Culture and Diversity in Canadian Society
• ENGL 101 Critical Reading and Writing

Students should ensure courses they take from other post-secondary learning institutions are equivalent prior to starting the program. Transfer credit is granted if a course is 80% equivalent of a Saskatchewan Polytechnic course. The program head can assist you with choosing the right courses if you are interested in lightening your workload.

Visit the Transfer Credit to Saskatchewan Polytechnic page for more information.

Yes, transfer credit is available from the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program University of Regina, Bachelor of Science in Nursing University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Polytechnic Licensed Practical Nursing diploma program for the majority of first year courses. Your first-year course load would likely be reduced to: NRSG 100, NRSG 101 and NRSG 109.

The Psychiatric Nursing program head can answer any questions you may have about the transfer credit process and can discuss options with you if you received your education at another Canadian university, polytechnic, or college.

Yes, please contact Enrolment Services for more details.

At present, the program is offered on a full-time basis. However, students can complete a variety of first year courses prior to starting the program.

Information on purchasing textbooks through the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Campus Store will be provided in the orientation package after students are accepted into the program. Any questions you have can be answered at the information session that takes place in the spring.

The Saskatchewan Polytechnic Campus Store should carry all materials that you require and can be purchased in person, online or by phone. You are encouraged to purchase the same edition textbooks to ensure you have up to date information. You will be required to have a stethoscope and a program specific uniform that must be purchased from an independent vendor.

You will receive an advanced diploma in psychiatric nursing.

The curriculums for all programs at Sask Polytech are reviewed regularly and undergo a comprehensive review every five to six years. During the most recent review, it was identified that the number of hours (2145) and credits (143) required to complete the psychiatric nursing program aligned with the ‘advanced diploma’ credential. The ‘advanced’ diploma recognizes the significant hours of study required of psychiatric nursing students to meet the entry-level competencies of the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS).

The ‘advanced’ diploma is recognized in all jurisdictions that employee RPNs in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The Psychiatric Nursing advanced diploma curriculum has an enhanced emphasis on psychiatric nursing assessments and interventions for complex comorbidities as well as advanced psychomotor medical/nursing skills for higher acuity patients. Most courses also have a focus on information across the lifespan.

Your official transcripts will be reviewed for eligibility for transfer credit. Since Sept 2013, Saskatchewan Polytechnic has offered the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing degree completion for graduates of a recognized psychiatric nursing program but it has been suspended for the 2022-23 academic year.

Please refer to the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing degree completion web page for updates.