DESCRIPTION
The program is approved by the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia (CRPNBC).
The purpose of the program is to educate students 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.
Students 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.
Students complete eight (8) academic semesters to graduate with a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing 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 42/124 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 students to critically reflect on their practice and on their application of psychiatric nursing knowledge and clinical judgment within the practice setting.
Students who enroll in the program will receive a student manual which provides information regarding program policies. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with University College and psychiatric nursing program policies.
Students in the program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 65% with no grade lower than 60% in all required courses, including electives.
Nursing Practice Experiences
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing practice experiences are essential in the BPN program. Students 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 students may choose to have placements beyond the Lower Mainland including international placements. Students are responsible for their own transportation and other expenses incurred as part of these experiences.
Some agencies may require students to take an Oath of Confidentiality, have a criminal record search, or have a successful interview with their personnel prior to their agreement to accept the student. 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.
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 agencies, and community resources.
Important Notice for Applicants:
Students 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 Requirements
In addition to meeting Kwantlen’s general admission requirements, applicants to the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing Program must submit official proof of having met the following academic requirements.
Mathematics Requirement
Principles of Mathematics 11 with a grade of C or equivalent
Science Requirement
Biology 12 and Chemistry 11 with a grade of C+ or equivalent, or BIOL 1110 with a grade of C or equivalent
English Requirement
English 12 with a grade of B or equivalent, or ENGL 1100 level with a grade of C or equivalent
Selection of Qualified Applicants
Applications for May 2007 will be accepted from July 1, 2006. It is expected for May 2007 that the number of applicants to the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing Program will exceed the number of available seats. As a result, the Psychiatric Nursing Program will admit qualified applicants through a computer generated random selection and a point system. Variable points will be awarded for:
- geographical location
- date of application
- relevant education (e.g. completion of non-nursing courses required in the program)
- persistent application to the program
For further details regarding the selection process, please contact Admissions.
To accept and secure a seat in the program, applicants must pay a non-refundable deposit (up to one year) prior to the start of classes.
Additional Requirements
Upon provisional acceptance to the program, additional admission requirements need to be completed prior to receiving final acceptance. These include:
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Standard First Aid and CPR Level C courses which are current at the time of entering the program. CPR certification must be renewed and currently maintained throughout the Program. (All costs and associated updates are the responsibility of the student)
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Immunizations consistent with the requirements of practice agencies. (All costs are the responsibility of the student)
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An acceptable Criminal Record Search completed within six months prior to 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)
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An interview and/or letters of reference may be required
Semester 1 : Individuals and Their Health
Students 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 with 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.
- PSYN 1100 Individuals & Their Health
- BIOL 1160 Anatomy & Physiology I
- ENGL 1100 Writing, Reading and Thinking: An Introduction
- PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes
Semester 2 : Families and Their Health
Students 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 in will also be studied.
- PSYN 1200 Families & Their Health
- ANTH 1100 Social & Cultural Anthropology
- BIOL 1260 Anatomy & Physiology II
- ENGL 1204 Reading and Writing about Genre: An Intro. to Literature (or any first year university transfer English course)
Semester 3 : Groups and Their Health
Students 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:
- PSYN 2100 Groups & Their Health
- PSYN 2120 Pharmacology & Other Therapeutics
- FINA 1170 Photography I
- SOCI 1125 Introduction to Sociology: Processes & Structures
One of:
- ANTH 1260 First Nations Peoples and Cultures of Canada
- CRIM 2330 Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
Semester 4: Acute Care as Community
Students 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.
- PSYN 2200 Acute Care
- PSYN 2220 Health Care Economics, Leadership and Management
- ANTH 1275 Culture, Health & Healing
- WOMN 2200 Footsteps of the Crone: Creative Teaching & Learning
- CAHS 3500 Nursing Concepts & Theories (for returning RPNs)
Semester 5 :Community Health
In the fifth semester, students will study and practice within the many forms of community and 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.
- PSYN 3100 Community Health
- PSYC 3920 Aging
- WOMN 3100 Beyond Conceptual Traps in Health Care
Semester 6 : Environment, Global Problems and Health
Students 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. Students 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.
- PSYN 3200 Environment, Global Problems &Health
- PSYN 3220 Issues in Mental Health Nursing
- PSYN 3230 Nursing Research
- PSYN 3240 Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis
Semester 7 : Capstone Consolidation
Students 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. Students establish working contracts with their clients and provide therapeutic care in their nurse-client partnership. This will include advanced skills in interventions related to counseling, psychotherapy, or case management.
- PSYN 4100 Capstone Course
- LBED 4210 Ethics and Social Issues
- SOCI 2345 Social Policy in Context: An Introduction
Semester 8 : Preceptorship
Students 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.
Degree Completion for Registered Psychiatric Nurses
Admission into Semester 5 for Registered Psychiatric Nurses is based on seat availability and the following program requirements
- Completion of CAHS 3500
- Proof of practising 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 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.
Completion of ENGL 1100 AND 1204(or equivalent 6 credits of undergraduate English) and two other undergraduate electives(3 credits) is required for graduation.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will receive a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (BPN) degree.