Psychiatric Nursing
Our psychiatric nursing programs 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.
Our psychiatric nursing programs are recognized by The British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP), which is the regulatory body for registered psychiatric nurses in this province. In order to practice psychiatric nursing upon graduation, students must meet the BCCNP English Requirements and Requisite Skills and Abilities for practicing psychiatric nurses. To learn more visit www.bccnp.ca
Department's website: kpu.ca/health/bpn
Students who successfully complete a psychiatric nursing program will be eligible to write national examinations to obtain registration to practice as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse in British Columbia.
Graduates of the psychiatric health programs 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 health care centers.
Registration in some course sections is restricted to students in particular programs. See Timetables - kpu.ca/registration/timetables - for current section information.
Visit the BC Transfer Guide - bctransferguide.ca - for information about course transfer in B.C.
PSYN 2110 2 credits
Health and Healing 1: Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing
Students will explore the concepts of mental health nursing through the examination of historical, social, cultural and political influences regarding mental health and wellness. They will examine the role of a mental health professional as a therapeutic agent. Students will also develop an understanding of their role in mental health. Note: This course may be in class and/or online.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 2125 3 credits
Pharmacology Theory: General Pharmacology
Students will examine, develop and apply the principles of safe medication administration. They will learn theory with a focus on classes of medications, assessments and evaluation in relation to mental health nursing within the context of acute and community care. Students will be introduced to a variety of drug classes and will learn about uses of drugs, pharmacologic and therapeutic effects, side effects, adverse effects, safe dosage ranges, nursing considerations, monitoring of clients, and documentation.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 2130 3 credits
Interpersonal Communication 1
Students will develop basic therapeutic communication skills. They will examine and discuss current approaches and theoretical underpinnings to enhance the therapeutic relationship in the context of multi-cultural, feminist, and ethical lenses. Students will study foundational communication skills in order to deliver care and psychosocial interventions. Through recursive writing processes, students will build upon communication theory through in-depth analysis and articulate basic communication concepts through writing-intensive activities. Students will engage in the principles of pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing to continue to build on evidence-informed psychiatric nursing practice efforts in the therapeutic relationship.
Level: UG
PSYN 2145 3 credits
Mental Health Nursing: Practice 1: General Nursing
Students will begin to apply and understand concepts of health promotion, recovery, and psychosocial rehabilitation in this first clinical practice course. They will begin to use knowledge and skills working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental health challenges. Students will also apply skills from lab, pharmacology and psychosocial rehabilitation theory in varying mental health settings.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 2201 8 credits
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Acute Care as Community
Students will apply select theories to maintain, restore, or improve the health of people in acute care communities, They will assess these communities using both a needs assessment and a community development model to facilitate informed health care decision-making. Students will apply knowledge of acute health care challenges and use nursing assessment and intervention skills in caring for individuals in a community context.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 2230 3 credits
Health and Healing 2: Fundamentals of Medical/Surgical Nursing
Students will develop and examine personal meanings of health, healing and health promotion in the context of acute episodic health challenges. They will learn theory with a focus on holistic assessment of individuals, families, groups and communities in psychiatric and medical surgical settings. Students will learn about the assessment role of the psychiatric nurse in the Canadian health care team. Health promotion for vulnerable populations will also be explored. This course may be offered in class and/or online.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 2245 4 credits
Mental Health Nursing Practice 2: Medical/Surgical Nursing
Students will practice nursing in settings with clients who require acute medical/surgical care, treatment and intervention. They will focus on developing assessment skills, documentation and health education. Students will also practice intermediate communication skills while working with clients.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3100 7 credits
Community Health: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Students will apply community development models working with communities to maintain, restore, or improve the health of people in communities. They will have practice in a variety of communities where psychiatric and mental health needs can be addressed.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): PSYN 2201 or (CAHS 3500 or NRSG 3190 for RPN's only)
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3120 3 credits
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Health Care Economics, Leadership and Management
Students will explore theory of basic economics and management with a focus on health care in Canada. They will develop leadership skills, group facilitation talents, and basic business planning and budget preparation. Students will work with an agency and will propose creative financial solutions to health care that maintains quality of care. They will integrate conflict resolution models, develop an understanding of working with unions, and be introduced to policy analysis. Students will also utilize nursing informatics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): PSYN 2201
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3125 3 credits
Pharmacology Theory: Psychopharmacology
Students will examine, develop and apply the principles of safe psychotropic medication administration. They will learn theory with a focus on classes of psychotropic medications, assessments and evaluation in relation to mental health and addictions nursing within the context of acute and community care. Students will be introduced to a variety of drug classes and will learn about uses of drugs, pharmacologic and therapeutic effects, side effects, adverse effects, safe dosage ranges, nursing considerations, monitoring of clients, and documentation. Students will also learn about prescribing authority related to specific medications to treat chronic drug addiction.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3130 3 credits
Health and Healing 3: Fundamentals of Complex Mental Health Nursing (3)
Students will continue to develop and refine their assessment skills and integrate, synthesize and evaluate holistic assessment of individuals, families and groups related to health promotion theory. Mental health promotion with vulnerable populations will be emphasized with a continued focus on recognition, screening, and assessment in mental health settings.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3145 4 credits
Mental Health Nursing Practice 3: Acute Mental Health Nursing
Students will continue to practice nursing in settings with clients who require acute mental health care, treatment and intervention. They will continue to focus on communication skills while working with clients. Students will also continue to develop assessment skills, documentation skills, and health education.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3200 7 credits
Global Problems and Health
Students will apply concepts and theories to address health challenges related to crises and environmental factors. They will examine the relationship between environment and health including epidemiological analysis, policy, and assessment on a local and global level. Students will work with a community on an identified crisis and/or environmental health issue. They will also explore the relationship of health and harmony to the land, natural world, and environment, from many perspectives including Aboriginal people's perspective.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3211 3 credits
Contemporary Issues in Mental Health Nursing
Students will explore issues, trends and strategies in healthcare as they relate to psychiatric nursing in Canada. They will explore ethical issues and the profession's impact on healthcare delivery. Students will also analyze current issues in relation to their impact on psychiatric nursing provincially, nationally and internationally.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3220 2 credits
Issues in Mental Health Nursing
Students will use critical social theory to explore current issues and societal trends associated with the oppression of people experiencing mental health issues. They will explore the role of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) in relation to these issues and societal trends.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3225 3 credits
Mental Health Leadership
Students will explore theories of mental health nursing leadership, management and related bodies of knowledge. They will develop the foundation and competencies necessary to the professional mental health nursing role. Students will also examine the effects of theories on outcomes of care.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3230 3 credits
Psychiatric/Mental Health: Nursing Research
Students will enhance their abilities to participate in the research process through critically reflecting on various research methodologies. They will develop their abilities to comprehend, critique and utilize research. Students will experience ways to transform personal inquisitiveness into a process of posing, exploring, and answering researchable questions. They will explore ways to critically examine their practice in relation to research. Students will explore the political considerations in conducting research.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3240 3 credits
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
Students will learn techniques commonly used in the analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. They will engage in the process of qualitative analysis through examining qualitative data, data coding, and thematic construction. Students will also examine a range of descriptive and inferential statistical approaches to quantitative analysis using a computer-based system.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3245 4 credits
Mental Health Nursing Practice 4: Community Mental Health Nursing
This clinical practice course will enable students to extend and consolidate their knowledge and ability in the principles and practices used with client populations requiring psychosocial, rehabilitative, mental health nursing care, treatment, and intervention in the community context. Students will be expected to apply previously learned theory and clinical skills, and will have the opportunity to enhance their interpersonal communication skills. Focus will be placed on the skills, attitudes, and interventions geared towards meeting the social, intellectual/emotional, and spiritual needs of the person engaged in community mental health care.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3250 3 credits
Substance Use and Mental Health
This course examines substance use, mental health, and concurrent disorders, including wellness, illness, and recovery in the context of mental health nursing practice. Students will explore the psychological, familial, and social impact of substance use, and concurrent disorders in primary, secondary and tertiary environments. Major mental health and substance use disorders with be explored from a strength-based perspective incorporating fundamental theoretical underpinnings, models of recovery, harm reduction, and trauma informed practice. Students will develop skills to engage in screening, assessment, withdrawal management, and treatment for diverse populations to develop collaborative solution-focused interventions and best client outcomes.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3255 3 credits
Interpersonal Communication 2
Students will further develop therapeutic communication and basic counseling skills. They will examine and discuss current approaches and modalities for counseling and psychotherapy in the context of multi-cultural, feminist, and ethical lenses. Students will study advanced communication skills and interventions and enhance self-awareness.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3260 3 credits
Health and Healing 4: Fundamentals of Community Mental Health Nursing
Students will examine roles, relationships, challenges and interventions for individuals, families and groups as they pertain to health promotion. They will learn the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation with specific emphasis on recovery as a framework in psychiatric nursing for clients living with severe and persistent mental illness. Students will also explore the theoretical elements of group formation and dynamics for small group work. This course may be offered in class and/or online.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): All of PSYN 3125, 3130, 3145, 3225, 3430
Co-requisite(s): PSYN 3210, 3245, 3350
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 3355 3 credits
Lab Practice 3: Interpersonal Communication Skills
Students will build upon previous communication skills from clinical and theory to continue to prepare them to care for clients in a variety of psychiatric settings. They will practice communication skills in the lab and simulated setting, with a focus on face-to-face and high fidelity simulation, to prepare them to care for multiple clients who experience complex mental health and substance use situations. Students will also learn to manage scenarios with increased complexity.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 4100 7 credits
Capstone Course: Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing
Students will collaborate with peers to suggest course content based on course concepts and self-identified learning needs. They will practice in a variety of clinical settings to integrate learning from previous nursing and non-nursing courses. Students will apply advanced nursing skills in counseling, psychotherapy, and case management as they work with individuals, families and groups.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): PSYN 3200
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 4110 3 credits
Health and Healing 5: Fundamentals of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nursing
Students will explore a theoretical framework for assessment and treatment of mental health issues experienced by children, adolescents and their families. They will integrate family systems, bio-psycho-social assessment, and a holistic model of health. Students will also explore cultural competency and cultural safety when working with children and adolescent clients.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 4145 7 credits
Mental Health Nursing Practice 5: Consolidation
This clinical practice consolidation course provides the student with the opportunity to reflect on previous learning and develop a focused learning plan integrating competencies of the mental health nurse in preparation for their final preceptorship. Students will practice in a variety of mental health settings focusing on advanced communication, assessment, and treatment of individuals and their families living with acute and chronic mental health challenges.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 4200 10 credits
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Preceptorship
Students will 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.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): PSYN 4100
Attribute: HLTH
PSYN 4245 10 credits
Mental Health Nursing Practice 6: Preceptorship
Students will transition from the student nurse role to that of the entry-level graduate nurse in this final preceptorship for mental health nursing. Students will be placed in a variety of settings with the expectation of enhancing proficiency under the standard of practice and ethical guidelines for the profession.
Level: UG
Attribute: HLTH
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