Difference between a psychiatric nursing diploma program and regular nursing?

[jmbarrett]

I'm really interested in going into a psychiatric nursing diploma program in BC and I'm currently taking the prerequisites to get into nursing. Is there anyone who knows information about the 3 year diploma for psych nursing and how it compares to the RN or LPN programs? Also, how difficult is nursing school? I know it probably depends on home situations, work, kids, etc. But for someone like myself who will not be working and does not have kids is it still as time consuming/difficult as people put it out to be? Thanks!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm not in Canada so I can't answer your question accurately. But to give you something to compare it to: here in the US, we don't have individualized psychiatric nursing programs (either RN or LPN/LVN). Everyone who graduates from a nursing school is a general practicioner to start with; we can choose to specialize down the road.

Advanced practiced nursing (CNS, NP, APRN) can attend a program to specialize in psychiatric nursing.

And nursing school is tough, but it's not impossible. I can't tell you how consuming it will be as people are different. A lot depends on your study habits, how well you take to the material, and your time management skills.