Academic Calendar 2012/2013

Psychiatric Nursing • Psychiatric Nursing • Psychiatric Nursing • Psychiatric Nursing • Psychiatric Nursing • Psychiatric NursingPsychiatric NursingFaculty of Health and Community Studieswww.MacEwan.ca/PsychNursingMacEwan University’s Psychiatric Nursing diploma programprepares graduates for a professional career as a RegisteredPsychiatric Nurse (RPN). This 28-month program is designedfor full-time studies and comprises 89 credits of courseworkdistributed over 2.5 academic years. The program has intakesat two sites: City Centre Campus in Edmonton and theCentennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury inPonoka (approximately 100 kilometres south of Edmonton).The curriculum helps students develop the professionalcompetencies they need to care for people experiencingmental and physical health problems. Graduates are readyto promote optimal health for patients and provide holistic,client-centred nursing care across the lifespan. The programof study incorporates extensive theory with laboratory andclinical practice. It builds on knowledge from nursing andpsychiatric nursing, as well as the physical, biological, healthand social sciences. Concentrated blocks of nursing practiceexperiences, scheduled in a variety of settings, are strategicallypositioned within each academic year.Graduates of this program receive a diploma in PsychiatricNursing and are eligible to write the Canadian RegistrationExamination for Psychiatric Nurses, which is required forregistration as an RPN. Opportunities exist for RPNs topursue baccalaureate and graduate studies in mental healthor a related field.Career potentialRPNs play an integral role as members of themultidisciplinary health care team. They are employed insuch areas as community mental health, acute and subacutepsychiatry, palliative care, rehabilitation, continuingcare, correctional services, crisis intervention, addictionsand substance abuse, education, research and privatepractice. Psychiatric nurses bring an important mentalhealth perspective to the delivery of health services throughtheir employment in such roles as staff psychiatric nurses,addictions counsellors, therapists, community mental healthworkers, case managers, educators, administrators, researchersand self-employed practitioners. Psychiatric nursing isrecognized as a distinct profession in the Yukon, throughoutthe Western Canadian provinces and in numerousother countries.TRANSFERABILITYAll courses completed for the Psychiatric Nursing diplomaprogram are credit courses and may be transferableindividually toward further study at other Alberta institutions.Program graduates may choose to pursue a degree inmental health or a related field. The program is designed toincorporate university-transferable coursework applicable toa baccalaureate degree. For current, detailed information onindividual course and diploma transferability, refer to theOnline Alberta Transfer Guide (www.transferalberta.ca) orcontact the receiving institution directly.Categories of AdmissionApplicants may be admitted to one of the following:Regular AdmissionTo be evaluated through the Office of the RegistrarApplicants must have a minimum overall average of65 per cent, with no course grade lower than 50 per cent, inthe following high school courses:1. ELA 30-12. Biology 303. Chemistry 30 or Science 304. Mathematics 30-1or Mathematics 315. One Group A, B or C courseNote: Applicants must have completed the appropriatehigh school courses or present university transferablepost-secondary substitutions.Applicants with nine to 23 university-level credits must alsopresent a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA)of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.Mature AdmissionTo be evaluated through the Office of the RegistrarApplicants must be 20 years of age or older and have beenout of full-time high school at least one year by the beginningof the intake term. Applicants must have a minimum overallaverage of 65 per cent, with no course grade lower than50 per cent, in the following high school courses:1. ELA 30-12. Biology 303. Chemistry 30 or Science 304. Mathematics 30-1or Mathematics 31Note: For Mature Admission only, another Group C coursegrade could be used to replace the Mathematics 30-1or Mathematics 31 grade in the calculation of thecompetitive average.Applicants must have completed the appropriatehigh school courses or present university transferablepost-secondary substitutions.Applicants with nine to 23 university-level credits must alsopresent a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA)of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.Previous Post-Secondary WorkTo be evaluated through the Office of the RegistrarAdmission in this category does not imply or guarantee thetransfer of any coursework and/or credential unless a blocktransfer agreement (internal or external) is in effect andpublished in the calendar by the Office of the Registrar. Inaddition, transfer of coursework does not imply or guaranteethat an applicant will be admitted.Applicants must have successfully completed the followingfrom a recognized institution:A minimum of 24 credits of university transferablecoursework with a minimum Admission Grade Point Average(AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and must have completed therequired core courses listed under the Regular or MatureAdmission category.132 Grant MacEwan University • A C A D E M I C C A L E N D A R 2012/2013 • www.MacEwan.ca