Where can I find my membership card and registration payment receipt?
You can find your membership card by signing into your account and clicking on the ‘permit’ button next to the applicable nursing designation under the ‘active and future permit’ section. By clicking on ‘tax receipt’ in the same section, our system will generate your receipt. Alternatively, both can be accessed by clicking on ‘download registration’ on the lefthand sidebar.
Do you keep records of my hours submitted by my employers? Could I request a copy?
Forms submitted by employers are considered third-party documents and cannot be shared by CNNN. If you wish to have a copy of employer submitted forms, please contact your employer. You can request confirmation of your self-reported hours by CNNN by emailing info@cannn.ca
Where can I find my Scope of Practice?
Relevant documents to your nursing practice can be found under the Registrants tab on our website, and ‘practice and standards’ under your nursing designation.
How can I update my information?
If you have had a legal name change, you can record that change under ‘my profile’ in the personal information section. We will require proof of the legal name change – the following documents are accepted:
- Marriage certificate; or
- Divorce decree; or
- Notarized statutory declaration of legal name change
I work for the government, is my registration fee GST exempt?
Professional memberships for government employees are considered third-party purchases in accordance with the Reciprocal Taxation Agreement (RTA) and are not GST exempt.
When should I submit my Continuing Competence Program (CCP)?
The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) has been introduced as the new framework for supporting continued competence, replacing the previous Continuing Competency Program. All registrants must complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (clinical or non-clinical version) and a Professional Development Plan (PDP) based on self-assessment outcomes. PDPs must be entered into the registration system before renewal is complete.
I was on leave during part of the year, do I need to submit my PDP
If you were registered at any point during the year, you must complete a Professional Development Plan (PDP) based on self-assessment for that year. Being on leave, short term employment, or not having renewed your registration into the new year do not change the requirement to provide a satisfactory PDP.
I do not see the option to renew as non-practicing
What’s the difference between a Regulator, Association, Union, and Employer?
These entities serve distinct yet complementary roles within the healthcare and nursing profession:
- Regulator: Protects the public by setting and enforcing standards for safe, competent, and ethical nursing practice. This includes registration, education approvals, and addressing unprofessional conduct.
- Association: Advocates for the interests of the nursing profession, providing career development, education, and research opportunities while promoting the profession to employers and government.
- Union: Represents employees in negotiating wages, benefits, and working conditions, resolving grievances, and advocating for employee rights.
- Employer: Hires and compensates nurses, defines job duties, and ensures a safe and supportive workplace aligned with employment laws.
Learn more about these roles and their impact here: Info Sheet
RPN Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)?
RPNs are autonomous nurses with comprehensive knowledge of mental, physical, developmental and emotional health care. RPNs provide health care to individuals, families, groups, and communities with complex psychosocial, mental health, addictions, and physical needs. RPN practice uses a holistic approach to health and wellness. RPNs work collaboratively with clients and other health care team members to coordinate trauma-informed, client-centred care.
RPNs are authorized to independently and autonomously assess, develop, implement, and evaluate the plan of care for clients with mental health conditions, with or without underlying physical conditions. As with all nurses, RPNs are expected to collaborate with other health care providers to meet the needs of the client and when the needs of the client exceed their scope of practice.
RPNs have been practicing in Canada for many years. RPNs are currently regulated in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
How Are RPNs Different From Other Nursing Designations?
LPNs, RNs, RPNs and NPs are different designations of nurses within the profession of nursing. There are shared competencies between each designation, however RPN education has a greater focus on comprehensive and advanced mental health competencies.
What Kind of Education Do RPNs Receive?
RPNs graduate from a baccalaureate program or a three-year equivalent diploma in psychiatric nursing. A Master of Psychiatric Nursing has been offered at Brandon University in Manitoba since 2011.
The breadth, depth and focus on mental health, addictions, advanced therapeutic relationships and communication distinguish psychiatric nursing education from other nursing programs.
Graduates must pass the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada (RPNC) Examination to be eligible for registration and licensure as an RPN. There are eight approved RPN education programs (primarily in Western Canada). There are no approved psychiatric nursing education programs in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.
Do RPNs Receive Entry-Level Education Related to Physical Health?
While the focus of RPN education is mental health and addictions, RPNs also have foundational knowledge of biological and physical sciences. Recognizing that many psychiatric clients have medical co-morbidities, RPNs have general medical and surgical nursing competencies and may further develop their general medical surgical competencies with additional post entry level education via their employer.
What Is the RPN Scope of Practice?
The professional scope of practice of RPNs is determined by the Nursing Profession Act of the NWT (2023), the Nursing Professions Act of Nunavut (2023); (“The Acts”) and in accordance with CNNN’s Bylaws, Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct. It is defined as the roles, functions and accountabilities for which an RPN is educated, authorized and competent to perform in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
The scope of practice for a registered psychiatric nurse includes the provision of nursing services to plan, implement and evaluate mental, psychosocial and physical health care by applying psychiatric nursing knowledge, skills and judgment that meet the following criteria:
- they are taught in a registered psychiatric nursing education program approved by a nursing regulator in Canada;
- they are set out in entry-level competencies or standards of practice approved by CNNN’s Board of Directors;
- they are set out in practice guidelines approved by CNNN’s Board of Directors.
For more information about regulatory scope of practice, employer scope of practice and individual scope of practice, please see CNNN’s All Designations Scope of Practice Document.
The boundaries of nursing practice cannot be determined by identifying tasks and procedures nurses can perform. Nursing practice is, in fact, far too complex to be reduced to lists of tasks and procedures. In contrast, nursing practice must be considered in terms of competence. The Acts define competence as the combined knowledge, skills and judgment necessary to meet accepted standards in the practice of nursing. Competence is comprised of more than a simple task, skill set or intervention. It is an integration of knowledge, skills and judgement into nursing practice.
What Does RPN Practice Look Like?
RPNs’ entry-level practice includes advanced competencies related to mental health care. NPs, RNs and in some contexts, LPNs can attain these advanced competencies with additional post-entry level education. The following are examples of RPN practice, but is not an exhaustive list:
- Assisting clients to achieve, maintain and restore their optimal physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health.
- Assessing, formulating a nursing diagnosis or diagnostic impression, planning, providing, and evaluating treatment and interventions.
- Educating students, clients and others.
- Advocating with or on behalf of clients.
- Counselling clients
- Coordinating, monitoring, delivering, and evaluating nursing services.
- Managing, administering, and developing systems and policies related to nursing and the provision of health care and psychosocial services.
- Engaging in research related to nursing, health and the practice of registered psychiatric nursing.
- Accepting and making referrals to other health professionals.
Can RPNs Prescribe Medications?
While prescribing is in the broader professional scope of RPN practice, the regulatory mechanism to enable RPN prescribing in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut is currently under development.
Can RPNs Work in Non-Mental Health Settings?
RPNs have foundational education in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, physical assessment, pathophysiology and medical-surgical nursing assessment and intervention. This enables them to care for psychiatric clients with medical-surgical co-morbidities.
There is no restriction on the practice settings in which an RPN can practice. However, as with any other nursing designation, the RPN must assess their individual competence to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and judgment necessary to safely provide the type of care in question, including understanding what to do if an adverse event occurs. This includes reflecting on whether the RPN has the necessary experience and expertise to make evidence-informed decisions and manage the specific type of care effectively.
If the RPN identifies a lack of competence due to insufficient experience or expertise, it is their responsibility to inform their employer and collaboratively seek ways to acquire that skill to meet the needs of clients within their care setting.
Can an RPN Work as an RN or LPN?
All nurses must hold registration and licensure in the designation in which they are employed. Designations are not interchangeable.
How Do I Become Licensed as an RPN?
To be licensed as an RPN, individuals must complete a psychiatric nursing program approved by the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada (RPNRC) and pass the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada (RPNC) Examination. These requirements must be fulfilled, regardless of existing nursing licensure.
How Do I Get Licensed as an RPN in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut?
As there are no RPN education programs in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut at this time, applicants must establish registration and licensure in another Canadian jurisdiction. Once licensed, RPNs can apply to CNNN for licensure.
