Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse - Registered Nurse (RN) / Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)

Vancouver Coastal Health; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Vancouver Coastal Health is seeking an entry-level Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse to join the team at Willow Pavilion. In this role, you'll provide individualized nursing care, engage in rehabilitation assessments, and work collaboratively with other health professionals. The position offers a chance to impact clients' lives positively in a supportive environment, making it an ideal opportunity for nursing professionals passionate about mental health care.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Employer-paid training opportunities

Access to wellness support services

Award-winning recognition programs

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with BCCNM.
• Completion of mental health clinical practicum of at least 6 weeks.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized nursing care to clients with mental illness and dementia.
• Consult with healthcare team to develop and implement treatment plans.
• Administer medications and monitor client responses.

Skills

Knowledge of concurrent disorders

Crisis intervention

Person-centered care

Psychosocial rehabilitation

Education

Current registration as Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Completion of clinical practicum in mental health

Job description

Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse - Registered Nurse (RN) / Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)

1 week ago Be among the first 25 applicants

The salary range for this position is CAD $41.42/Hr. - CAD $55.91/Hr.

Come work as a Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse to join the Willow Pavilion Assessment & Treatment team at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team!

As a Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse, you will

• Provide individualized direct nursing care, discharge planning and case coordination services to a wide range of clients with severe and persistent mental illness, concurrent disorders and/or dementia and is responsible for the full range of clinical practice and the client-centred rehabilitation program by working independently and as a member of a team.
• Enhance quality of life from the perspective of the client/family.
• Perform physical and psychosocial rehabilitation assessments.
• Consult, confer and collaborate with other health care givers and family members to develop, implement, evaluate and modify individualized strength-based treatment plans.
• Establish, maintain and enhance therapeutic relationships based on respect.
• Administer prescribed medicines, monitor client response and provide/demonstrate ongoing information to the client/family on activities of daily living, use of medication and side-effects and integration of illness to their lifestyle.
• Prepare and maintain client records according to established standards, participates in team meeting, engages in team planning and quality improvement activities and maintains and updates own knowledge.
  
  
  

About Willow Pavilion (vgh)

Willow Pavilion is a Regional Tertiary Mental Health & Substance Use facility located on the Vancouver General Hospital Campus. It is an advanced practice environment that offers wrap-around services to clients experiencing refractory psychiatric conditions. The interdisciplinary team includes occupational, physical, vocational, and recreation therapists and assistants, pharmacists, dieticians, social workers, nurses, rehabilitation workers, doctors, peer support workers and others.

Education & Experience

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or a Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Completion of a minimum 6 week or 240 hours of clinical practicum/preceptorship in a mental health setting supplemented by completion of coursework in mental health or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of concurrent disorders, substance use and abuse, harm reduction strategies including assessment and intervention.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of conceptual models of psychiatric care including person and family centered care, trauma-informed care, recovery model in mental illness and psychosocial rehabilitation methodology.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Mental Health Act as it applies to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community, social and mental health resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of impact of social, cultural and family systems on health outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to provide nursing assessments and interventions such as facilitating group process, conflict resolution, crisis interventions, individual and group counselling.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and implement care plans and anticipate and respond to potential complications and care issues relevant to the designated client group.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in the development and delivery of educational programs and materials for clients and families based on education theories, principles and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to identify emotional, social, or environmental barriers and intervene to eliminate stigma.
• Demonstrated ability to document client care on appropriate systems/forms in accordance with organizational and unit standards in a timely and accurate manner.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage conflict situations and aggressive behaviour and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to model and mentor new staff and students.
• Demonstrated skill in performing autonomous scope of practice and standards of care relevant to designated client population.
• Demonstrated skill in clinical techniques and the use of applicable equipment and supplies.
  
  
  

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff
  
  
  

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2025.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.

***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https//my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.

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