Nurse Practitioner- Mental Health and Addictions Services- Full Time

Purpose:

The Sault Area Hospital (SAH) is currently seeking a self-directed, results-oriented nursing leader with demonstrated experience developing the Nurse Practitioner (NP) role into a healthcare program.  The NP will provide innovative and creative advanced clinical leadership for the inter-professional team to create new pathways that improve the delivery of Addictions treatment & care.  Proven experience as an NP with positive collaborative partnerships with physicians, staff and system partners is essential to this clinical role.

Duties:

  1. Participates and collaborate with other health care providers in the provision of patient care.
  2. Assesses patients by obtaining relevant history and completing physical exam, in order to make a diagnosis
  3. Initiates orders for treatment(s), medications, and diagnostic tests according to findings and collaborates with SAH physicians, primary care providers and family health teams as needed.
  4. Develops medical treatment plans for the patients under her/his care, which may be carried out by other care providers.
  5. Develops pathways to care to other addiction and mental health services as part of the discharge process, including Primary Care.
  6. Evaluates outcomes based on clinical skills/judgement and patient improvements.
  7. Dictates discharge summaries, which set out the diagnosis, treatment and discharge instructions.
  8. Participates in the development of order sets, clinical pathways or medical directives for the care of the patients in the program.
  9. Refers to other care providers as appropriate
  10. Where appropriate is a consultant and resource to the Health Care Team and the community as required.
  11. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:             

Skills & Ability:

  • Practice autonomously, offering the full scope of Nurse Practitioner (NP) practice as outlined in the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Practice Standard: Nurse Practitioner, and provincial and federal legislation.
  • Practice may be guided by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) publication “Canadian Nurse Practitioner Core Competency Framework”.
  • Ability to provide leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a nurse practitioner lead role in a new program
  • Perform the responsibilities of the position within the legislative and regulatory standards set out in the applicable Provincial and Federal Acts and consistent with the operational policies of SAH.
  • Provide comprehensive health assessments to diagnose health/illness conditions, working within the legislated scope of an NP with a specific focus on mental health and addictions medical support.
  • Communicate with clients about health assessment findings and diagnosis where appropriate.
  • Provide evidence based treatment for adults presenting with mental health and/or addictions disorders.
  • Knowledge of social determinants of health and how these can impact marginalized populations.
  • Applied knowledge and implementation of trauma informed care.
  • Provide comprehensive biopsychosocial support for individuals who are acutely intoxicated and/or withdrawing from a variety of substances.
  • Consult, refer and collaborate with members of the multidisciplinary team and community services as required.
  • Provide direct comprehensive care to clients to manage acute and chronic illness within a holistic model of care.
  • Counsel clients on harm reduction, withdrawal, craving symptom management, health maintenance, pharmacotherapy, alternative therapies, psychosocial rehabilitation strategies and other health programs.
  • Develop and maintain professional working relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team and community agencies.

Note:  Because of the changing nature of the work and work to be done, other responsibilities and duties may by assigned and qualifications may be adjusted from time to time. Only those selected for the test/ interview will be contacted.

Nurses will be selected on the basis of their skill, ability, experience and qualifications as identified in the resume which they have attached to the posting application form. The Hospital reserves the right to conduct a formal interview and/or testing where required.

This position is covered by a collective agreement. Applications from outside the bargaining unit are welcome, but can only be considered if the position is not filled from within the bargaining unit.