We are pleased to share that the Government of Nova Scotia has recently approved amendments to the regulations under the Nursing Act that will make way for a new designation of nurses in the province.
Effective December 1, 2025, the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) will have legislated authority to register and license registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) in addition to licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and nurse practitioners (NPs).
RPNs are a separate and distinct nursing designation within the profession of nursing. They study from the same body of nursing knowledge as other nursing designations and their entry-level education has a comprehensive focus on mental and developmental health, mental illness and addictions while integrating physical health care. RPNs share competencies with LPNs and RNs and work in collaboration with each other.
“The introduction of RPNs in Nova Scotia has been led by the Government of Nova Scotia with support from many health system partners,” says Douglas Bungay, CEO & Registrar of the Nova Scotia College of Nursing. “As the province’s nursing regulator, our responsibility is to set the standards and license RPNs to ensure they are qualified and competent to provide safe care. This is an important step toward improving access to mental health care for all Nova Scotians.”
Nova Scotia will join six provinces and three territories across the country that currently register and license RPNs in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
For more information, including a video and Q&A resource, please click here.
