Nurse Practitioner

Somerset West Community Health Centre; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 119,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) at Somerset West Community Health Centre in Ottawa works within the Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health team to provide primary care, triage, diagnosis and treatment to clients in supportive housing and medical stabilization settings.

You will collaborate with RNs, social supports, and counseling services, maintain a patient roster, and participate in program development with a focus on harm reduction, health equity, and culturally safe care.

Qualifications

• MScN RN(EC) or equivalent required.
• Current Extended Class NP-PHC and unrestricted registration.
• Minimum two years’ NP experience in community or primary care.
• Experience with diverse and marginalized populations.
• ODSP knowledge is an asset.
• Experience with Practice Solutions EMR is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide triage, physical assessment, diagnosis and treatment, counselling, health promotion and preventative care.
• Collaborate with interprofessional team including RNs, counselors and housing staff.
• Develop, monitor and evaluate programs for homelessness, mental health and substance use.
• Maintain a progressive roster as the primary provider.
• Possible hours until 8pm and/or weekends; operate within Walk-In Clinic scope.

Skills

Communication

Crisis intervention

Team collaboration

Clinical assessment

Independence in practice

Harm reduction

Health equity

Education

MScN RN(EC) or equivalent

NP-PHC registration

ODSP knowledge (asset)

Practice Solutions EMR knowledge (asset)

Tools

Practice Solutions EMR

Job description

Position Title: Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Classification: Nurse Practitioner

Department: Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health

Pay Band: $119,082.6 - $137,774 plus a comprehensive compensation package that includes time-off entitlements, health benefits, life insurance, and participation in the HOOPP pension plan.

Reporting to: Manager, Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health

Job Type: Permanent - 0.8 FTE

Shift: Day, evening, and weekend shift work will be required (8 HR Shifts).

Application Deadline: Open until suitable candidate is found

About us:

We are Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non-profit, community-governed organization that serves over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC provides a wide range of health care services such as primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health, and harm reduction. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve and committed to removing barriers to accessing services for people who experience vulnerabilities because of their age, income, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity, and language or culture.

SWCHC strives to ensure that our team reflects the communities we serve. We work within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework that acknowledges the existence and impacts of systemic racism and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) works as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide health care & treatment to clients who reside in supportive housing units and support with medical stabilization beds.

The NP will collaborate closely with members of the Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health team such as Basic Needs Coordinators, RNs, Peer Coaches, System Navigators, Housing Case Managers, and Counselling services.

The NP is responsible for the provision of primary health care services in compliance with the Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses in the Extended Class and the Expanded Nursing Services for Patients Act. This includes but is not limited to health promotion, counselling, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and referral to specialists and/or diagnostic testing.

The NP provides primary care functions and participates in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and services to clients facing homelessness, mental health, and substance use challenges.

The NP works in a collaborative fashion to meet program goals and objectives.

The NP must have the ability to function independently and as a member of an interprofessional team in a culturally sensitive manner.

The NP must be comfortable working within complex, evolving, and non-traditional care environments where clinical presentations, housing instability, substance use, mental health, and psychosocial factors frequently intersect. This role requires strong clinical judgment, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to balance risk, harm reduction principles, and client-centered care in situations where traditional pathways may not always apply.

The NP will work collaboratively with Registered Nurses in the development, implementation, oversight, and continuous evaluation of medical directives to support safe, responsive, and flexible care delivery across community and supportive housing settings.

Position Responsibilities:

The Nurse Practitioner provides a wide range of services including comprehensive triage, physical assessment, diagnosis and treatment as well as counselling, health promotion, and preventative care to clients with varied health, social, cultural and economic needs. The successful candidate will work to full scope of practice within the Walk in Clinic, with the ability to function independently and as a member of an interprofessional team in a culturally sensitive manner. The successful applicant may also be required to provide services until 8pm and/or weekends.

The NP will also be responsible for maintaining a progressive roster of clients for whom they are the most responsible provider.

As Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health services expand, there may be opportunities for increased outreach with community partners. This could involve onsite visits, delegation of responsibilities, or implementing medical directives in collaboration with the nursing team.

Requirements:

Education

• MScN RN(EC) or equivalent
• Current Extended Class certificate (NP-PHC) and unrestricted registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Previous knowledge bloodborne illnesses and treatment pathways
• Knowledge of ODSP application process is an asset
• Experience with using Practice Solutions EMR is an asset

Professional Experience

• Minimum two years’ experience as a nurse practitioner in a community or primary care setting
• Strong clinical skills and diagnostic abilities
• Previous experience working with culturally diverse and marginalized populations
• Strong ability to work independently, manage time effectively, delegate tasks to the nursing team, and approve medical directives is essential
• Experience in an outreach, drop-in or shelter setting is an asset
• Proven experience in emergency response situations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Passion for working with high-risk populations and people who use drugs
• Commitment to working from a health equity and anti-oppressive lens
• Knowledge of nursing best practices for individuals with substance use, and suicide assessment. Familiarity with Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Guidelines an asset.
• Knowledge of street drug substances, psychoactive properties & possible drug interactions
• Knowledge and ability to screen and assess for risk of overdose & withdrawal
• Knowledge of primary care and the social determinants of health
• Knowledge of health promotion, disease prevention, behaviour change and health teaching
• Strong clinical assessment skills
• Demonstrated ability and clinical expertise working with clients in crisis
• Expertise in non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation
• Knowledge of concurrent mental health distress presentations including psychosis, trauma and emotional dysregulation
• Knowledge of harm reduction approach and service delivery
• Effective organizational, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to delegate
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to work with people with concurrent disorders
• Ability to work under stress with multiple demands
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge of legislation, acts and regulations that govern nursing practice
• Valid CPR and First Aid
• Successful completion of police record check for vulnerable populations

Language Capability

• English
• Proficiency in other languages considered and asset.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Statement

Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.

This posting is for a currently vacant position that we intend to fill through this recruitment process.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in working with us. Due to high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.