Psychiatric Nursing: Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing

Description

The Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing program is undergoing curricular revisions that require Ministry review and approval.

The proposed curriculum was not approved by the Ministry at the time of the 2015/16 intake and as a result students will follow the curriculum as outlined in the 2014/15 University Calendar

Admission information regarding the Health Foundation Certificate Program can be found online at kpu.ca/health/foundations  Students who successfully complete the HF program may, through a competitive declaration process, continue through the final three years of the Bachelor of of Psychiatric Nursing (BPN) degree. For further information, see kpu.ca/health/bpn  and kpu.ca/health/foundations

The program is recognized by the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia (CRPNBC).

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 the national examination to obtain registration to practice as Registered Psychiatric Nurses in British Columbia. Access to degree completion by Registered Psychiatric Nurses or Stenberg College graduates 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 39 of 123 credits from 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 few selected Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing courses and some liberal education courses may be offered on-line. 

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 enroll 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 days, evenings, nights and weekends. Practice experiences occur throughout the Lower Mainland, and learners may choose to have placements locally, nationally and internationally. 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 Options

The Degree Completion option for Registered Psychiatric Nurses 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.  See degree completion for Registered Psychiatric Nurses for more information.

The Degree Completion option for Stenberg College Graduates provides un-registered graduates of the Stenberg College Registered Diploma Psychiatric Nurses (RDPN) program with access to Semester 5 for completion of a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing degree.  Once admission requirements are met, students complete the equivalent of four semesters of full-time study.  See degree completion for Stenberg graduates for more information.

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 centers.

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 the Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:

• English 12 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum grade of C+; or ENGL 1100 level (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C+
• Biology 12 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum grade of C+
• Chemistry 11 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum grade of C+
• Pre-calculus 11 or Foundations of Math 11 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum grade of C+

Additional Requirements

Once students have received a conditional offer of admission and before final admission to the BPN program is granted, students must submit the following:

• CPR level C certificate
• Current standard first aid certificate
• Criminal record check through the BC Ministry of Justice, Criminal Records Review Program
• Applicants who have lived outside of Canada as an adult are required to secure a Criminal Record Search with the Vulnerable Sector from their country of origin. Please contact the Office of Admissions for further direction on obtaining your criminal record check.
• Any other specified conditions of admission prior to the date specified in the offer of admission letter

Note: Immunization records are not required until placement in a clinical or practice course, and prior to registration. This will be enforced by the appropriate department prior to the time of registration.

Selection of Qualified Applicants

Only students who meet all of the program’s admission requirements as outlined above will be considered for admission. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee admission into the program. Admission to the program will be made through an established process that includes the selection of twenty (20) high school applicants and twenty (20) post-secondary applicants.

High School Applicants
High school applicants will be selected using the highest cumulative percentages from the English, mathematics, chemistry and biology courses required for admission. High school students will be offered conditional acceptance based on interim grades. Final grades must be equal to or greater than interim grades or acceptance may be withdrawn.

Post-secondary Applicants
Students who have a minimum of 24 eligible undergraduate post-secondary credits with a minimum GPA of 2.33 qualify under this category. Twenty (20) students with the highest CGPA from a recognized post-secondary institution will be selected.

Continuance Requirements

Students in the program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.33 with no grade lower than C in all required courses, including electives.

Curricular Requirements

Students admitted to Year One are required to complete a minimum of 123 credits of course requirements.

Year 1

Semester 1: Interim Health Foundations (HF)

	BIOL 1160	Anatomy and Physiology I	4 credits
	ENGL 1100	Introduction to University Writing	3 credits
	HSCI 1115	Introduction to Health Science	3 credits
	PSYC 1100	Introduction to Psychology	3 credits
	SOCI 1125	Introduction to Society: Processes and Structures	3 credits

Semester 2: Interim Health Foundations (HF)

	ANTH 1100	Social & Cultural Anthropology	3 credits
	BIOL 1260	Anatomy and Physiology II	4 credits
	HSRC 1125	Personal Care Skills	3 credits
	PSYN 3230	Psychiatric/Mental Health: Nursing Research	3 credits
Plus one of:
	ENGL 1202	Reading and Writing about Selected Topics: An Introduction to Literature	3 credits
	ENGL 1204	Reading and Writing about Genre: An Introduction to Literature	3 credits

Year 2

Semester 3

	HLTH 2100	Laboratory Practice 2	2 credits
	PSYN 2102	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Theory	3 credits
	PSYN 2104	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Practice	4 credits
	PSYN 2110	Essentials of Psychiatric Nursing	3 credits
	PSYN 2115	Communication Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing	2 credits
	PSYN 2120	Pharmacology and Other Therapeutics	3 credits

Semester 4

	ANTH 2163	Culture, Health and Well-Being	3 credits
	HLTH 2200	Laboratory Practice 3	2 credits
	HLTH 2210	First Nations Health	3 credits
	PSYN 2202	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Theory	3 credits
	PSYN 2204	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Practice	4 credits

Year 3

Semester 5

	PSYN 3102	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Theory	3 credits
	PSYN 3103	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Practice	7 credits
	PSYC 3920	Aging	3 credits
	WOMN 3100	Conceptual Traps & Health Care	3 credits

Semester 6

	PSYN 3202	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Theory	3 credits
	PSYN 3203	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Practice	5 credits
	PSYN 3220	Issues in Mental Health Nursing	2 credits
	PSYN 3240	Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis	3 credits
	PSYN 3250	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Health Care Economics, Leadership & Management	3 credits

Year 4

Semester 7

	PHIL 3010	Health Care Ethics	3 credits
	PSYN 4102	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Theory	3 credits
	PSYN 4103	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing - Practice	5 credits
	PSYN 4110	Child Adolescent: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing	3 credits
	SOCI 3345	Social Policy in Context	3 credits

Semester 8

PSYN 4201

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Preceptorship

10 credits

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (BPN).