Subsection 2: Holders of the State diploma in psychiatric nursing.

The committee provided for in article L. 4311-5, chaired by the Prefect or his representative, is made up of : 1° Two hospital practitioners, one of whom works in a psychiatric department ; 2° Two nurses holding a state nursing diploma and a health executive diploma; 3° Two nurses holding a State diploma in psychiatric nursing and a health executive diploma; 4° The Director General of the Regional Health Agency…

Nurses who hold the State diploma in psychiatric nursing and who are applying for the State diploma in nursing shall send the chairman of the committee, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, a file containing the following information: 1° Copy of the psychiatric nursing diploma ; 2° Curriculum vitae, enclosing a list of the departments in which the candidate has worked and the nature of the duties performed; this…

The files referred to in article D. 4311-26 are sent each year between 1st and 31st January to the chairman of the commission located in the region where the candidate carries out his/her duties or, if he/she does not carry out any duties, in the region where he/she lives.

In the light of the information contained in the application, the committee determines, for each candidate, the content of the additional training prior to obtaining the State nursing diploma, with particular regard to the content of the programme of studies leading to the State diploma. The total duration of this training may not be less than six months.

The organisation of the additional training is entrusted to the directors of the nursing training institutes, in collaboration with the director of the nursing care department in public health establishments, or the person fulfilling the equivalent functions in private health establishments, and in their absence with the head nurse of the host department. The committee designates the training institute to which each candidate should apply.

The objectives of the additional training are defined contractually by the person responsible for supervising the candidate at the placement(s), designated by the director of the nursing training institute and the candidate him/herself. The candidate may inform the regional commission of any difficulties encountered during the placement(s).

At the end of each course, the person responsible for supervising the course, together with the team that actually provided the training for the candidate and the candidate him/herself, will assess the training in the light of the objectives set. This assessment, which includes a precise, reasoned written assessment, is forwarded to the committee and communicated to the candidate.

In the light of the above-mentioned assessment and the initial file, the committee decides whether to award the candidate the State nursing diploma. It may ask the candidate to repeat all or part of the additional training. It will then take a final decision on the award of the State diploma in nursing.

The committee’s decisions are taken by a majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote.