The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) continues to monitor COVID-19 to ensure that appropriate measures and supports are in place.
Changes to our Business Operations
The CPRNM is committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees, volunteers, registrants, and members of the public.
Our office is now open to visitors. Visitors will be required to wear a mask when entering and exiting the building and may be asked to provide proof of vaccination status. Acceptable forms of proof will be the digital or physical Manitoba Immunization Card.
Individuals who are not able to be vaccinated for medical reasons, or who choose not to be vaccinated, are invited to make a virtual appointment.
You may reach us by phone at (204) 888-4841 or by e-mail at crpnm@crpnm.mb.ca to make a virtual appointment.
Visit our Staff Directory if you would like to leave a voice message for a particular member of our team.
You can find our COVID-19 Protocol for In Person Appointments here.
If you have documents to submit to the CRPNM (such as Criminal Records and Child and Adult Abuse Registry checks and identification documents) you can submit them electronically. You can find more information about the requirements for scanned or photographed documents and how to submit them here.
If you do not have a scanner, you are welcome to drop off your documents in the mail slot at the CRPNM at 1854 Portage Ave in Winnipeg or mail them to us. Please find our complete mailing address here.
Practice Support
Staff continue to work both remotely and in person. We are continuing to provide RPNs with links to recently published practice directions and other publications that may guide your practice.
- Telepractice
- Telepractice Guidelines
- Duty to Provide care
- The Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS)
If you have questions about the CRPNM practice documents, please contact the Practice Consultant/Deputy Registrar at (204) 888-4841 (ext 4).
The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented strain on our health system, and Registered Psychiatric Nurses have been at the forefront of that response for 18 months. Public health measures continue to be required to mitigate the spread and impacts of the virus.
It is essential that all RPNs understand that it is their professional responsibility to follow the public health orders and to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates their professional commitment to the prevention of illness and the promotion and maintenance of optimal health, rehabilitation and recovery.
Click here to read more.
Registered Psychiatric Nurses are encouraged to review credible and reliable sources of information, daily, for updates on COVID-19 that may affect their practice.
Temporary Measures
RPNs providing services outside of the publicly funded system should frequently check the public health orders and the COVID-19 resources for health-care providers to ensure they are following provincial recommendations. This includes the Shared Health Resources for Health Care Providers which describes the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required in different clinical settings.
As a reminder, informed consent to receive services includes providing the client with information about the risks, benefits, and alternatives for services- this discussion should be inclusive of the risk for COVID -19 transmission.
All clinical services that can be provided virtually should continue. In person visits require careful consideration on the impacts to space, staff resources and personal protective equipment (PPE).
RPNs who practice as a contractor or who are self-employed and offering services within the health system are also encouraged to seek the guidance of the health region(s) in which they work to confirm their services can continue (e.g. for those who may provide service within a PCH).
Notice from Manitoba’s Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living enables the CRPNM to expedite registration for former RPNs and RPNs from Other Canadian jurisdictions.
This notice enables the Registrar to waive or modify any requirements for registration or practice in order to allow a person, who is registered in good standing with and currently authorized to practice as a registered psychiatric nurse by the applicable regulatory body in another province, to practice registered psychiatric nursing in Manitoba during this emergency.
It also enables the Registrar to waive or modify any requirements for registration or practice in order to allow a person, who meets the following requirements, to practice registered psychiatric nursing in Manitoba during this emergency:
- the person was registered in good standing with the college within the past 5 years and immediately before ceasing to be a member of the college;
- the person was authorized to practice by the college within the past 5 years;
- the college is satisfied that person is competent to perform the reserved acts that they will be authorized to perform as a member of the college.
Additional information can be found here
The Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living has issued an order under section 7 of The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) authorizing additional health care workers to perform the reserved act related to administering vaccine by injection in response to COVID-19 under certain conditions. Please read the complete Ministerial Order for more information.
The order does not explicitly identify Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) because vaccination is already part of RPN scope of practice.
Health care workers authorized by this order must meet a number of conditions to perform the reserved act including being supervised by a member of a regulated health profession who is authorized to perform the reserved act by regulation under the RHPA or by a profession-specific act listed in schedule 2 of the RHPA.
In this context, RPNs may asked to may be asked to supervise other health care providers assigned to perform this reserved act by their employer. More information about RPN’s responsibilities related to assignment can be found in the Practice Direction: Assignment and Delegation to Unregulated Care Providers.
Employment Opportunities
Please refer to the Shared Health website for employment opportunities at COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Clinics: https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/providers/jobs/
The Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living has issued an order under section 7 of The Regulated Health Professions Act authorizing additional health care workers to perform the reserved act related to nasopharyngeal swab collection in support of COVID-19 testing under certain conditions. Please read the complete Ministerial Order for more information.
The order does not explicitly identify Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) because nasopharyngeal swab collection is already part of RPN scope of practice.
Unregulated health care providers, such as Health Care Aides, may perform nasopharyngeal swab collection as an assignment when supported by their employer. As a member of the health care team, RPNs and may take on roles, such as educator or supervisor, when working in collaboration with other providers to support COVID-19 testing.
Practice expectations for collaborative care and delegation and assignment to unregulated health providers can be found here:
Practice Direction: Assignment and Delegation to Unregulated Care Providers
Updated October 13, 2021
