Career guide
Registered psychiatric nurse
Nova Scotia does not license psychiatric nurses as a separate profession; mental health nursing is done by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
- StatusNot a separate profession in Nova Scotia
- Training—
- Pay scale$40.55–$79.00 an hour
- Openings now1
A day in the job
You might run a group session, assess a new admission, give medications, help a patient through a crisis, and plan discharge with community teams. Much of the work is talking with patients and building trust.
Where you could work: Mental health units, community mental health, addictions, corrections
How to get there
- To work in mental health nursing in Nova Scotia, train as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse
Licence and registration
- Registered psychiatric nurses from western Canada should ask the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator how their training would be assessed
Official starting point: Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (opens in a new tab)
Trained outside Canada?
If you trained as a psychiatric nurse elsewhere, contact the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator about an assessment.
Important: Requirements can change and may differ for internationally educated professionals. CareZelo links to official bodies but does not determine eligibility.