RN Mental Health Nursing Certificate

The RN Mental Health Nursing Certificate Program is a self-paced, on-line, instructor-supported program that prepares Registered Nurses to work in Mental Health settings.

Tuition and information regarding the length of each course can be found on the course pages linked below. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Program graduates will be equipped to:

  • demonstrate responsibility and accountability for their psychiatric nursing practice;
  • apply communication theory and skills effectively to initiate, maintain and terminate therapeutic relationships;
  • promote a therapeutic environment;
  • demonstrate self-awareness in relationships with individuals and their significant others to facilitate therapeutic relationships;
  • in collaboration with the client, use problem-solving and specialized knowledge and skills to accurately assess, plan, implement, evaluate and adapt a plan of care for a client in a mental health setting;
  • apply principles of teaching and learning to assist individuals to meet mental health-related needs;
  • demonstrate responsibility and accountability for their own nursing practice in a mental health setting;
  • demonstrate beginning leadership skills within the health team;
  • utilize agency and community resources to promote health;
  • demonstrate clear, accurate oral and written communication regarding a client's health status and response to therapeutic interventions; and
  • critique the quality of their own practice with ethical and legal parameters.

Courses

Clinical Practice or Knowledge Transfer

The clinical component of the program is your opportunity to apply your learning to your practice. The form that your clinical experience will take, clinical placement or knowledge transfer, will be based on your experience and learning needs, as determined through an interview with the Douglas College Continuing Education faculty.

Please note that Preceptorship arrangements are not available to students living outside of Canada.

Program Admission Requirements

You must submit to Continuing Education, Faculty of Health Sciences:

  • a program application form;
  • a copy of your current resume, highlighting your education and experience as an RN;
  • proof of completion of a recognized RN education program;
  • a letter of intent that describes your personal goals and vision for your future practice, and how completion of this program aligns with those goals (maximum of one page);
  • two letters of reference (one must be a healthcare work-related reference; the other may be a personal reference);
  • a copy of current active registration RN registration; and
  • proof of completion of English 12 with a minimum grade of “C” or equivalent LPI test results (score of 4 on all sections).

Tuition

Each course has its own tuition fee. Tuition is noted on the individual course pages linked above. 

Program Duration

You have a maximum of 24 months to complete all the courses in the program with Knowledge Transfer completion, or up to 18 months to complete the program with Clinical Practice completion. This is a maximum timeline, based on the maximum timelines available to complete each of the courses in the program. As courses are self-paced and begin once per month, dedicated students may complete the entire program in less than the maximum time permitted.

Credential

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a Douglas College Continuing Education program certificate: RN Mental Health Nursing which is issued by the Graduation Office in the Office of the Registrar.

For more information regarding application to the program, please contact the RNMH Program Assistant by email cehs@douglascollege.ca .