Psychiatric nursing diploma

Fiona59 · Apr 6, 2015

There has been talk for several years of the Psych programme becoming a degree not a diploma. It looks like it's not far away.

Psychiatric Nursing - MacEwan University

For wages check out the AHS website.

As you state you live in Alberta, you should be aware of the governments plans for healthcare and plan accordingly.

Acada15 · Apr 6, 2015

Thanks for your response. But will the changes affect the diploma holders? Can one still use it as entry level to practice. I have gotten a seat at MacEwan but I will like to know if I can work with the diploma after graduation. I need a short program but not LPN. I am 41 with two children under 10. I plain to bridge to BSN that is easy through part time at U of A or continue with BSPN In MacEwan.

But I am afraid that if I graduate with BSPN, I will only work in Psych unit. Is that true?

loriangel14, RN · Apr 6, 2015

Yes. If you want to work in other areas you would need to do LPN or BSN. Why not do LPN and then bridge?

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2015

You're also going to be at a disadvantage compared to the RPNS who have the 4 year degree, not the diploma. Many employers will hire the RPN degree holder or the BSN.

Taking the LPN program and then bridging later on if you decide will provide greater job opportunities.

Acada15 · Apr 7, 2015

I have search for the new government plans for healthcare but my search couldn't come up with some thing tangible. Could you please tell me more about it. Will it affect the LPNS or the RPNS.

Acada15 · Apr 7, 2015

So the BSN will be good then instead of the diploma. I don't like taking LPN becuse it will take more 3yrs to bridge but RPN is 2yrs.

Fiona59 · Apr 7, 2015

Psych nursing is a very specialized niche. You need to have a great desire to work with population to take the education and training

If you are looking at it as a short cut to RN level pay instead of LPN pay you could be very unhappy in your career choice.

How long have you been in Alberta? You seem to be very unaware of what has been happening in the healthcare arena in this province. There are hiring freezes for nurses of all designations. Part time jobs are being eliminated through attrition. Bumping in all nursing areas has happened in the last 18 months. New grads usually wind up working casual, if they can find a full time line it's usually got a set period of employment due to being hired as a mat leave replacement or illness replacement.

Look into what is and has happened Alberta Hospital. Psych patients are all over the system right now. They are on medicine units, surgical units and being discharged to "community based" programmes. LPNs and RNs are caring for the inpatients. Community programmes only employ a limited number of professional staff and use numerous "support workers".

We don't have a crystal ball and are not able to tell you what the government has planned for us. Many nurses I know are checking their seniority dates to figure out what to do when cuts happen and we see them coming. I work part time and the latest rumour doing the rounds is AHS (aka the government) wants as many full time positions as possible to save on the cost of benefits. I don't want to work full time, so if push comes to shove, I'll be back in the float pool as a casual and lose my benefits and future pension benefits.

So, if you have your heart set on psych nursing go for it. It's an area I can't work in. I figured that out on my psych rotation in nursing school and I had considered doing the psych programme prior to taking the PN course. Just remember that once you are working and repaying student loans it's not as easy to go back and bridge especially as your children get older.

Acada15 · Apr 8, 2015

Thank you very much. It seems that you have been into nursing profession for a long time. This is my forth month in Alberta and I'm just trying to understand how the system work here. I have a bachelor degree in chemistry since 2002 and have been working for a company outside Canada. Now I want a change in carrier and I choose nursing. I look at it that it will give me time to take care of my family.

I will not like to go for BSN after degree that will be too hectic for me. I will like to start as a fresher. Psychiatric nursing or General nursing. I look at psychiatric due to the entrance requirement is a bit easy and if I'm to go for it, I will study it to the bachelor level so that getting a job after graduation will not be difficult. I don't know if am wrong or right here.

But still don't know how the job prospect will look like.

As a new immigrant will I be able to get student loan? I'm just 4 months in Alberta PR and to start school by Sept. Any info will be very useful.

Thanks.

Fiona59 · Apr 8, 2015

You could be in for a huge shock. You appear to be choosing this route because it is short, and in your words easy.

Have you any experience with mentally ill people? An idea of types of mental illness, addiction rates, etc in Canada? I know a student who will be graduating from the RPN course this year. It's been a long, hard journey for her that she has rethought several a times over the years.

Good luck. You don't really seem to have done much research into nursing, nursing education, and healthcare during your four months here. Far too short a time frame to base your family's future on. What does your spouse think of your plan? As for time for your family, school will take over your life. Unless you work casual after graduating, shift work takes you away from the family, vacations are subject to seniority due to union regulations

loriangel14, RN · Apr 8, 2015

What do you mean by "general nursing ?"

Acada15 · Apr 9, 2015

BSN with no area of specialization.