Nurse Practitioner

Who we are:

Canadian Mental Health Association Durham is an integrated community mental health and primary care hub that has been providing mental health services to Durham Region for over 60 years.

During that time, it has evolved to provide a broad range of services to individuals and their families experiencing mental health challenges, from information and education to case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, housing and primary healthcare. These services are provided through inter-professional teams focused on providing clinically based services that, in addition to dealing with client mental health issues, address social determinants of health using the recovery model.

Overview of the role:

The Nurse Practitioner provides services to complex clients throughout their lifespan, the client family, and the community. There is a strong emphasis on health promotion, patient education and disease prevention in a psychiatric and addictions treatment setting.

This individual will also participate as a member of a high performance, multi-service team of Case Managers, nurses and other health specialists providing Primary Care to clients within the HART Hub residential setting.

Location: HART Hub employees may begin work at 60 Bond St. West, and will move to the designated HART Hub location in Oshawa at a later date.

Responsibilities:

Assessment

Working within the scope of practice of the RN (EC), performs a comprehensive health or symptom directed assessment synthesizing data from multiple sources to make diagnosis, as part of a comprehensive health care team

Systematically assesses clients to determine the presence of existing and potential health problems, with a major focus on related lifestyle, psychological, sociocultural, and environmental risk factors influencing the client’s health status; providing individualized care or by referral to or in consultation with, other health care providers.

In accordance with the philosophy of primary health care, encourages clients and families to take responsibility for their own health by involving them in risk factor and health problem identification, goal setting, and the choices of interventions for disease treatment and prevention, health promotion

Works within medical directives as established and approved by CMHA Durham and collaborating physicians

Determines, orders and interprets the results of indicated diagnostic imaging within the scope of practice

Determines the need for and orders and interprets reports of diagnostic Imaging within the scope of RN(EC) practice

Keeps complete, accurate, legible and timely records of client visits, to provide information assisting other practitioners in continuing the client’s care

Sees clients for scheduled and urgent assessment across the continuum of need, during regular and extended hour in all service areas (including MUP)

Identifies and responds to urgent/emergent health issues in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team

Treatment

Identifies and responds to urgent/emergent health issues in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team

Provides advanced nursing care and treatment (including pharmacological, complementary therapies and/or counselling interventions) for complex client conditions and based on best practices for the target population and within the RN(EC) scope of practice

Monitors the efficacy and adjusts the clinical care plan to meet client needs, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team

Documents using client health records, refers to and arranges follow-up as necessary

Implements strategies to foster optimized and healthier lifestyles

Synthesizes information from individual clients to identify broader implications within the social context of the client Ensures that encounter forms and other statistics have been recorded and participates in their analysis

Ensures that encounter forms and other statistics have been recorded and participates in their analysis

Involves and encourages clients in decisions and actions about their own health

Provides health education for clients across the continuum of care with a focus on mental health and addiction recovery

Organizational Role

Uses community assessment data to identify community needs and resources to assist the organization in developing, implementing and evaluating appropriate programming

Maintaining current knowledge of policies, reading minutes of meetings and keeping up to date with organizational happenings

Contributing to quality performance across the organization and the attainment of strategic organizational goals

Arranging priorities as necessary to perform tasks

Knowing established work and administrative procedures

Client Safety

Adhere to CMHA Durham client safety programs including program policies as well as infection control and prevention procedures. In partnership with clients, family members, and fellow staff, maintain open lines of communication to assist the organization in identifying and achieving quality outcomes for client safety. Report client safety incidents and suggested improvements to manager or delegate.

O ther Duties as Assigned

Attend, participate in team meetings and all employee meetings

Participate in organizational quality improvement activities, e.g. accreditation projects, committee work, special events

Participate in quality improvement activities at the team/program level

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position.

Effort

Sits, stands and walks daily to perform the duties of the job

Concentration, attentiveness and creativity required daily to assess clients, administer medications/ injections, attend meetings, manage system of medicine administration, prepare documents, listen to clients, use nursing equipment, etc., as well as may lift walkers and push wheelchairs as needed

Committed to self-care to maintain therapeutic competencies

Risk Management:

Minimizes risks adhering to CMHA Durham Policies and Procedures identifying, assessing, evaluating and controlling risks ensuring well-being of employees and clients.

Qualifications:

Member of the Council of Ontario University Program in Nursing Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program Certificate (or recognized equivalent) in good standing

Master's in nursing or health-related field required

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario as an RN(EC) required

Current Membership with the NPAO

Current Ontario Driver’s License is an asset

Experience with electronic medical records system is an asset

Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, and other related legislation in Ontario is an asset

Sound knowledge of psychotropic medications including usage and potential side effects

Ability to manage a system of medication checks ensuring accuracy

Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients and community partners

Represent the organization in a professional manner always

Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills and the ability to formally present information to individuals or groups to develop, implement and monitor nursing care plans and attend meetings

Ability to resolve complex problems to ensure high quality client experiences

Excellent assessment and organizational skills

Ability to work with individuals of diverse backgrounds

Flexibility to adapt to change and support any function required within the clinic (i.e. injections, phlebotomy, administrative support)

Ability to work independently when necessary

Ability to think critically and creatively

Ability to make accurate nursing assessments and implement best practices

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