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Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Addiction Counsellor

Supporting mental health care

Registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) assess patients and plan, implement, and evaluate patient care. They provide evidence-informed, person-centered, and recovery-oriented nursing care to patients and their care providers.

They implement strategies to promote optimal mental health, physical health, and overall well-being of their patients and provide education on mental health and addiction topics to a variety of audiences.

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Compensation

$39.21 to $51.46 per hour

Other benefits

Union

United Nurses of Alberta (UNA)

Education

Nursing degree

Registration

College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA)

Duties

  • Complete patients’ health history and mental status assessments
  • Evaluate and assess client-related physical health problems, issues, and questions
  • Implement strategies to promote optimal mental health, physical health, and overall patient well-being
  • Administer and assess effects of medications
  • Respond to observed behavioral changes
  • Educate a variety of audiences on a range of mental health and addiction topics

Make a Difference

  • Educate patients and families about their diagnosis, treatment plans, coping, and self-management strategies to promote optimal mental health and well-being
  • Counsel and advocate on behalf of patients
  • Provide quality patient care to adults and youth undergoing mental health treatment in clinical or institutional settings

Work Collaboratively

  • Work independently or as part of a multi-disciplinary health care team including physicians, psychologists, and social workers
  • Work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, mental health clinics, correctional centres, schools, and community health clinics
  • RPNs working in Corrections Health collaborate with healthcare professionals and correctional centre authorities in a safe and secure setting

Grow Your Career

  • Opportunities exist for clinical, addictions and mental health practice with support from clinical experts in a multi-disciplinary team environment
  • Clinical nurse educator
  • Head nurse
  • Healthcare leadership and management
  • Health system administration

Additional Information

To learn more about a career as a registered psychiatric nurse in our province visit Alberta Learning Information Services (ALIS).