We acknowledge that Manitoba is on the original lands of the Dakota, Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dené, Inuit and Métis Nation. We acknowledge that the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba is located on Treaty One territory. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, and we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past. We dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.

Entry Level Competencies

Psychiatric nursing education programs prepare entry-level Registered Psychiatric Nurses to practise safely, competently and ethically in a variety of practice settings, in situations of health and illness, and with diverse populations of individuals, families, groups and communities. All entry-level Registered Psychiatric Nurses enter practice with competencies that are transferrable across practice settings, even though their psychiatric nursing education program may not have exposed them to all practice environments or client types.

Entry-level Registered Psychiatric Nurses practise autonomously, and continue to consolidate theoretical and experiential learning through collaboration, mentoring and support from the inter-professional team. For this reason, employers play a key role in supporting RPNs and Graduate Psychiatric Nurses to acquire further competencies through orientation, continuing education and professional development opportunities.

In 2013, the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada (RPNRC), formerly the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada, launched a pan-Canadian initiative with funding from the Government of Canada. As part of RPNRC’s initiative, the four provincial jurisdictions collaborated to develop national entry-level competencies for Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Canada.

On October 20, 2014, the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) Board of Directors adopted the RPNRC Registered Psychiatric Nurse Entry Level Competencies as their own. This document replaces all previous documents used to describe the entry-level competencies for Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Manitoba.

This document identifies the entry-level competencies that the average, beginning RPN requires for safe, competent and ethical practice. The competencies reflect the profession’s commitment to client- centred care and to ensuring evidence-informed psychiatric nursing practice — now and in the future.

College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba

1854 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3J 0G9

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