Independent/Self Employed Practice

Definition of Independent Practice/Self Employed Practice

Independent practice/Self Employed Practice is the application of psychiatric nursing knowledge and principles in an unsupervised, self-employment setting in psychiatric nursing practice and/or psychiatric nursing services. Registered Psychiatric Nurses in independent practice/self employed practice must adhere to the Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice, Code of Ethics, Health Professions Act, Psychiatric Nurse Regulations and the RPNRC Guidelines for Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Independent Practice.

The Registered Psychiatric Nurse in independent practice/self employed practice:

  • is a graduate from an approved psychiatric nursing education program with additional education and/or experience in their area of practice
  • must be an active/practicing registrant with his/her respective provincial professional regulatory body
  • is solely responsible for his/her practice
  • provides a yearly copy of personal liability insurance to CRPNA prior to the expiry date of the insurance.


Self-Assessment Checklist for Self-Employed Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) practice.

For the document of Guidelines of Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Independent Practice please go to the Library.

     Professional Liability Insurance

Registered Psychiatric Nurses are required to hold Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) during their registration.  This is a requirement by law under the Health Professions Act (HPA) Part 2 – Registration Section 28 (1)(c) to show evidence of having the amount and type of Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) required by the regulations.  CRPNA regulations Section 11 Liability Insurance states:   All applicants for registration as regulated members must provide evidence of having the type and amount of professional liability insurance required by the Council.

PLI is in place to protect both the patient and the member.  By having PLI, a member is protected professionally and financially from claim (real, alleged or false) made against the member as a result of rendering professional services.  The client is protected should the claim be substantiated, and damages awarded.