CURRENT PRACTICE ALERTS
NEW Protecting Albertans from High-Risk Opiods
New community protection and opioid stewardship standards will protect the public from high-risk opioids while improving access to care for those with severe opioid addiction.
Alberta's Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (vodp.ca)
Narcotic Transition Services (alberta.ca)
NEW APPROVED College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta Code of Ethics and Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice (revised 2022). (The Code of Ethics remains unchanged).
The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA) is the legislated regulatory body in which all Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) in the province of Alberta are regulated. In accordance with the Health Professions Act (HPA), the CRPNA is accountable for public protection by ensuring that Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Alberta provide safe, competent and ethical practice. One way this is achieved is through the development, monitoring, and enforcement of the CRPNA Code of Ethics and Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice. This document articulates the legal and professional obligations of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse and the minimum requirements that must be met.
CRPNA extends appreciation to the many Alberta Registered Psychiatric Nurses who provided input and expertise in the development of this document and acknowledges the foundational work of the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice 2019 that contributed to the development of this new document.
To access the new Code of Ethics and Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice and all other CRPNA standards and guidelines that RPNs must adhere to in practice - click here .
NEW APPROVED Documents for Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) Prescribing and Ordering Diagnostic Tests
The following approved documents are requirements for RPN prescribing.
Registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) who meet certain requirements can become authorized to prescribe Schedule 1 drugs (except controlled drugs and substances) and order common diagnostic tests within a specific clinical practice setting.
KNOW BEFORE YOU APPLY
RPNs can only be authorized to prescribe within a specific practice setting and location. If you move practice settings or locations, your authorization is no longer valid, and you will need to re-apply for authorization in your new practice setting.
RPNs employed by Alberta Health Services and who wish to become an authorized prescriber in their practice area, are asked to contact Tyler Burley([email protected]) to discuss Alberta Health Services practice areas supporting nurse prescribing.
BEFORE APPLYING FOR AUTHORIZATION, AN RPN MUST:
- Hold an active permit and be in good standing with CRPNA
- Have at least 3,000 clinical practice hours as an RPN
- Have at least 750 practice hours in the practice setting/location in which you are seeking to prescribe
- Complete the approved Athabasca University RPN prescribing course
- Have employer support including an employer reference, employer policies, clinical support tools, and collaborative practice relationships in the workplace
AUTHORIZATION PROCESS
Once all the above criteria have been met, please contact CRPNA for the application to become an authorized RPN prescriber.
CRPNA contact information: [email protected] with the subject line: REQUEST FOR RPN PRESCRIBING AUTHORIZATION.