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Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric nurses provide professional nursing and mental health nursing services. They promote and help people restore and maintain good mental health.
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Avg. Salary $70,429.00
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Avg. Wage $45.40
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Minimum Education 2 years post-secondary
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Outlook above avg
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Employed 36,200
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In Demand Medium
Also Known As
Nurse, Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
NOC Codes
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
- 2006 NOC: Psychiatric Nurses (3152.4)
- 2006 NOC-S: Registered Nurses (D112)
- 2011 NOC: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
- 2016 NOC: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
65%
65%
Average Wage
Starting
Overall
Top
Average Wage
| Starting | $36.48 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $45.40 |
| Top | $53.60 |
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Certification Provincially Regulated
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Interest Codes
The Psychiatric Nurse is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Psychiatric Nurses
- SOCIAL
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Interest in instructing patients in life skills programs; and in encouraging patients to participate in routine work functions and recreational, community and other therapeutic activities
- METHODICAL
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Interest in compiling information to keep patient records and record symptoms and changes in patients' conditions
- DIRECTIVE
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Interest in operating medical equipment to perform tests and administer treatments; and in evaluating patients' adjustment in the community
Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Either independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team, psychiatric nurses provide holistic, client-centered nursing care. They may:
- Complete health histories, physical examinations, and mental status assessments
- Develop, implement, evaluate, and update nursing care plans
- Administer and assess the effects of prescribed medications and treatments
- Assess, report, and respond appropriately to observed behavioural changes
- Plan and implement strategies to promote optimal mental and physical health and well-being of clients
- Serve as advocates for clients and their families
- Monitor the unit to ensure quality and safe patient care
- Facilitate multidisciplinary team meetings and daily case reviews with doctors
- Prepare daily staff assignment sheets
- Provide short-term counselling and one-on-one client therapy
- De-escalate aggressive situations
- Facilitate workshops on self-esteem, anger management, goal setting, relapse prevention, and grief and loss
- Interview new client admissions and assist with discharge planning
- Provide wound care management and vital signs assessments
- Do routine drug screening and breathalyzer tests
- Assist clients with Alberta and federal funding programs
- Facilitate family meetings to discuss client needs and expectations in care
- Keep clear and accurate documentation
Psychiatric nurses’ teamwork skills come into play when setting up and implementing therapeutic programs. At those times, they collaborate with health care professionals such as psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, recreational and occupational therapists, as well as people in law enforcement.
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Psychiatric nursing can be intellectually, physically, and emotionally demanding. Shift work is the norm in institutional settings such as hospitals. Shifts include nights, weekends and holidays. Psychiatric nurses may be required to provide direct physical care, including lifting and transferring patients, and assisting patients with hygiene needs and other daily activities.
Nurses often drive to their work locations.
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Skills & Abilities
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Psychiatric nurses need:
- Patience, understanding and a caring attitude
- Maturity and self-discipline
- Communication and teamwork skills
- Organizational, problem–solving, and critical thinking skills
- Good judgment, especially in stressful situations
- Quick thinking
- Physical and mental stamina
- Time management skills
They should enjoy:
- Taking a methodical approach to compiling information and administering treatments
- Working with and consulting with people
- Directing the work of others
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2019
The minimum education requirement for psychiatric nurses is a diploma in psychiatric nursing. Psychiatric nurses need to be committed to lifelong learning.
Required Education
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
Grant MacEwan University
Related Education
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
Grant MacEwan University
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Nurse - Psychiatric
Psychiatric nurses provide professional nursing and mental health nursing services for patients, residents and clients in acute and long-term care facilities and in the community. They assess physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health needs, develop diagnoses and plan, implement and evaluate nursing care.
Legislation
Under Alberta's Health Professions Act and Registered Psychiatric and Mental Deficiency Nurses Profession Regulation, registration with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta is mandatory if you meet identified competency requirements and provide professional services directly to the public, teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession, or supervise registered members who provide services to the public. Registered members, who are authorized by the College, provide restricted activities specified in the Regulation. Only registered members may call themselves registered psychiatric nurses or use the initials RPN or PN.
What You Need
Registration with CRPNA requires successful completion of: (1) an approved program of studies, or equivalent, within a specified time period prior to application, and (2) an approved examination. Applicants who have been out of practice for a period of time also may have to demonstrate that they are currently competent to practice. For official, detailed information about registration requirements, visit the CRPNA website or contact the CRPNA directly.
Working in Alberta
Psychiatric nurses who are registered by and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta if registered psychiatric nurses in the two jurisdictions have similar responsibilities and competencies. For more information, see "What if I am already certified in another province or territory?" and the Alberta regulatory authority (below).
To learn about certification for internationally educated psychiatric nurses, see Registered Psychiatric Nurse Registration Process.
Contact Details
College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta
201, 9711 - 45 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6E 5V8
Phone number: 780-434-7666
Toll-free phone number: 1-877-234-7666
Fax number: 780-436-4165
Website: www.crpna.ab.ca
Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Psychiatric nurses may be employed in a wide variety of settings. About two-thirds of psychiatric nurses employed in Alberta work in hospitals. Most of the others are hired at:
- Community mental health programs and clinics (for example, support services for people with disabilities or chemical dependencies, crisis services, and suicide-prevention programs)
- Residential care facilities
- Acute care, extended care, long-term care, and palliative care facilities
- Educational institutions
- Correctional institutions
Psychiatric nurses are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3012: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. In Alberta, 96% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf] industry.
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
- Trends and events affecting overall employment, especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry
- Location in Alberta
- Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
- Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
- Size of the occupation
In Alberta, the D112: Registered Nurses occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.6% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 1620 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Salaries for psychiatric nurses vary depending on their employer and their educational qualifications, experience, and responsibilities.
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
- Low
- High
- Average
- Median
Starting
Overall
Top
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $35.47 | $37.60 | $36.48 | $36.86 |
| Overall | $40.00 | $47.05 | $45.40 | $46.38 |
| Top | $46.30 | $56.44 | $53.60 | $56.22 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Industry Information
| Public Administration | $85,051 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $70,429 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $70,339 |
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
65%
65%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
35%
35%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
13%
13%
Vacancy Rate
3%
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) website: nursesunions.ca
College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA) website: www.crpna.ab.ca
Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada (RPNRC) website: www.rpnc.ca
United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) website: www.una.ab.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
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