Registered Nurse Mental Health Program Enhanced Orientation Initiative

Providence Healthcare; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 57,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Providence Health Care in Vancouver is seeking registered nurses for the Mental Health Program's Acute Mental Health Unit. The role offers a dedicated 14-week Enhanced Orientation Initiative with employer-funded education, supervised clinical learning, and mentorship to transition into acute mental health practice.

Successful applicants gain permanent employment with consistent postings, participate in education with Douglas College, and work within an interdisciplinary team delivering

Qualifications

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.
• One year recent experience in acute psychiatry or tertiary mental health or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Providing comprehensive nursing care by assessing patients, developing and adapting individualized care plans, delivering evidence-based interventions, monitoring progress and responding to changing physical, psychological and behavioural needs.
• Supporting patients through acute mental health challenges by providing therapeutic nursing interventions, crisis support, education and group sessions while promoting dignity, autonomy, recovery and patient-centred care.
• Working as part of an interdisciplinary team by collaborating with peers, psychiatry, social work, and other care providers to coordinate treatment, support discharge planning and connect patients with appropriate community resources.
• Contributing to a strong and evolving practice environment by supporting quality improvement, research, education and clinical practice initiatives, sharing knowledge with colleagues and helping shape how acute mental health services are delivered at the new St. Paul’s Hospital.

Skills

Effective communication

CPR certification

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Decision making

Prioritization

Education

RN licensure in BC

BC College of Nurses & Midwives registration

Job description

Salary

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

Job Accuracy Posting Flag

The hours of work, including start and stop times, days off, work area and work site may be subject to change consistent with operations requirements and applicable provisions of the Collective Agreement and statutes. **Testing may be required. ***A criminal record check may be required

Summary

The next chapter of your nursing career could be in mental health. You bring the passion. We'll help you gain the experience.The Mental Health Program is pleased to announce a new recruitment and education initiative designed to support Registered Nurses interested in practising in acute mental health nursing. Developed in partnership with Douglas College, the Mental Health Program Enhanced Orientation Initiative compromises approximately 14 weeks of employer-funded education, supervised clinical learning experiences, and dedicated mentorship, allowing selected nurses the opportunity to develop the expertise and skills needed to transition into acute mental health practice. This is an opportunity to pursue an area of nursing you're passionate about with the education, experience and support to set you up for success. Mental health care is a growing and increasingly specialized area of nursing practice and one of the Program's priorities is to grow and sustain a skilled nursing workforce capable of meeting the increasingly complex needs of the people we serve. This initiative represents an important step toward creating new entry points into mental health nursing by investing in the professional development and growth of nurses.

This position may be eligible for a one‑time recruitment incentive of up to $15,000. Eligibility and the exact amount will be determined based on the FTE and is subject to funding availability. To learn more about this incentive and whether you may qualify, please contact your Recruitment Advisor.

Your pathway into acute mental health nursing- Successful applicants will:

• Gain permanent employment with regular Mental Health Program nursing positions.
• Build your knowledge completing approximately 14 weeks of employer-funded mental health education through Douglas College, with paid wages and while accrueing seniority and applicable benefits
• Gain hands‑on experience participating in supernumerary clinical learning experiences within Mental Health Program settings.
• Learn from experienced clinicians and receive support from Mental Health Program educators and preceptors throughout the learning period.
• Transition into practice following successful completion of the program.

The curriculum includes coursework in therapeutic relationships, mental health assessment and promotion, and mental health disorders, combined with supervised clinical learning experiences.

Who should apply?This opportunity may be of interest to Registered Nurses who:

• Are passionate about mental health and substance use care.
• Are interested in developing a career in acute mental health nursing.
• Do not currently meet the traditional acute psychiatry qualifications but are willing to undertake the required education and training pathway.
• Can commit to the program requirements and subsequent 18‑month return‑of‑service commitment within PHC’s Acute Mental Health Program.

Mental Health Nursing at PHC - Building the Future of Mental Health Care

Our Mental Health Program is a global leader in the treatment of complex mental health disorders, and the largest integrated mental health program in British Columbia. Here, you’ll be part of a united, multidisciplinary team driven by one shared belief: people living with mental illness deserve better. Despite extraordinary advances in mental health care, the best available treatments are sometimes not enough—they’re not accessible, personalized, or transformative enough. We come to work every day to change that. By listening closely to our clients and their families, creating and championing innovative care pathways, and advancing clinical research, we’re pushing the boundaries of what mental health care can be.

With a tight‑knit and supportive working environment that fosters a sense of community amongst practitioners dedicated to patient care, being a mental health nurse at PHC provides incredible opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, mentorship, and professional development.

The New St. Paul's Hospital.

Come be part of one of the most ambitious healthcare projects in Canada and help shape what’s next for mental health care. As Canada’s healthcare landscape is changing, the new St. Paul’s Hospital is being built to lead that change, including a major expansion of mental health services.

Opening in February 2027, the new St. Paul’s Hospital is one of the most technologically advanced and ambitious healthcare projects in Canada, bringing together digitally enabled care, research, innovation and an integrated approach to meeting the needs of the patients and communities we serve. As part of this transformation, PHC is expanding its Mental Health services, creating an opportunity for RNs and RPNs to join our Acute Mental Health Program at a pivotal time and help shape how complex mental health care is delivered in purpose‑built mental health care spaces, 100% single inpatient rooms, and dedicated outdoor space, designed from the ground up to help support both patients and clinical teams.

What you will be doing

• Providing comprehensive nursing care by assessing patients, developing and adapting individualized care plans, delivering evidence‑based interventions, monitoring progress and responding to changing physical, psychological and behavioural needs.
• Supporting patients through acute mental health challenges by providing therapeutic nursing interventions, crisis support, education and group sessions while promoting dignity, autonomy, recovery and patient‑centred care.
• Working as part of an interdisciplinary team by collaborating with Peers, Psychiatry, Social Work, and other care providers to coordinate treatment, support discharge planning and connect patients with appropriate community resources.
• Contributing to a strong and evolving practice environment by supporting quality improvement, research, education and clinical practice initiatives, sharing knowledge with colleagues and helping shape how acute mental health services are delivered at the new St. Paul’s Hospital.

Minimum Nurse‑to‑Patient Ratio

Minimum Nurse‑to‑Patient Ratios (mNPR) set the minimum number of nurses required to safely care for patients on a given unit. Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the BC Nurses' Union (BCNU), and health organizations across British Columbia, mNPR provides a consistent and transparent approach to staffing that supports safe nursing practice and high‑quality patient care. At Providence Health Care (PHC), our approach to implementing mNPR reflects our commitment to person‑centred, socially just, compassionate care and our dedication to Indigenous cultural safety. Guided by our mission and values - Spirituality, Integrity, Stewardship, Trust, Excellence, and Respect - PHC is working collaboratively across all departments to ensure mNPR is thoughtfully adapted to the unique needs of each clinical program and specialty area. This tailored, values‑driven implementation aligns with our commitment to compassionate, innovative, and patient‑centred care and positions PHC to meet the evolving health needs of our patients, residents, families, and communities.

NBA BCNU Advanced Hires

This is an Advanced Hire position (Article 17.08 – BCNU Collective Agreement). Employees who accept an Advanced Hire position should be aware of the following: Advanced Hire positions are intended to provide flexibility to support temporary vacancies, leaves, and future permanent opportunities. Advanced Hire employees do not participate in Expression of Interest (EOI) processes or line selection, as they do not hold a regular baseline position. Advanced Hire employees may apply to posted vacancies across PHC in accordance with the collective agreement.

What You Bring

Education

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, or in Residential Care and Mental Health, current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.
• One year recent experience in acute psychiatry or tertiary mental health or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Candidates who do not currently meet the qualifications as stated in the job description may be selected on a without prejudice and precedent basis as part of the Mental Health Program RN Enhanced Orientation Initiative

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedures appropriate for the area of service.
• Ability to work as a member in an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to apply decision making and analytical skills.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Ability to role model conflict resolution strategies.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to prioritize and organize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Ability to teach and identify patient/resident learning needs.
• Ability to lead patient/family group sessions.
• Ability to provide clinical direction.

What We Offer