The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia, also called the CRPNBC, is the regulatory body for registered psychiatric nurses living in the province. Those who are working in the area as an RPN need to be a member of the College or else they will not be able to practice in British Columbia. The CRPNBC began in 1947, originally called the B.C. Psychiatric Nurses Association. Over the years, they’ve changed their name, have become active in wage negotiations for nurses, and have been instrumental in education and determining the registration requirements of RPNs in the area.

Today, the CRPNBC is the body that regulates all of the RPNs under the Health Professions Act. They are the ones the make sure that the RPNs maintain a certain standard of ethics and quality when it comes to their practice. They also ensure that the RPNs meet all of the practice and educational requirements needed for safe practice in the province.

Who Needs to Join?

As a forensic psychologist working in Canada, you aren’t going to need to become a member of the CRPNBC. However, anyone who is working in British Columbia and wants to become an RPN will need to join the College and stay a member in good standing. They have certain standards and requirements that you will have to meet when you join the College.

The College is able to do far more than just regulate the RPNs though. It’s possible for people to connect with their peers and to continue their education with the help of the College. Through the site, they offer job opportunities and listings, which can be quite handy for the nurse that is looking for a new place of employment. From an employer’s point of view, this is great as well. They can post job information and know that only the qualified nurses are going to be responding to their advertisements. It’s a winning situation for everyone involved.

Through the College, members will be able to find ways that they can further their education through classes, conferences, workshops, and more. They have awards of excellence, insurance, and much more. In addition, they have many resources and publications that members will be able to use.

What about Forensic Psychologists?

Even though a forensic psychologist isn’t going to be a part of the CRPNBC, it is easy to see the parallels between the two careers. Forensic psychologists are working with those who have mental health issues in many cases, and these people are often the same ones with whom the nurses are working. Having a good working relationship with the RPNs can be very advantageous to the forensic psychologist.

If you are a forensic psychologist working in the British Columbia area, then you might want to learn a bit more about the CRPNBC. It is possible to glean quite a bit of information from their website, and you should be able to find psychiatric nurses that can offer you more insight into their practice without much trouble.

Please visit http://www.crpnbc.ca/ for more information about the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia.