Registered Nurse (TFT 1.0 FTE Bilingual)

The Royal Mental Health Centre; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider seeks a dedicated nurse to join their team, focusing on patient-centered care for individuals facing substance use and concurrent mental health disorders. This role involves assessing patients' needs, providing education on harm reduction, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to ensure holistic care. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in psychiatric nursing, excellent communication skills, and a passion for helping those in need. If you're looking to make a significant impact in the lives of individuals struggling with complex issues, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Must have experience with substance use disorders and mental health issues.
• Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario is required.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage patients with substance use and mental health disorders.
• Provide harm reduction education and support to patients and families.

Skills

Patient centered nursing care

Motivational interviewing techniques

Assessment of intoxication and withdrawal

Harm reduction education

Holistic nursing care

Communication skills

Education

Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario

BSc.N

Certification in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Certification in Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders

Tools

CIWA and COWS scales

Workload measurement systems

RAI-MH systems

Job description

Duties:

1. Clear understanding of patient centered nursing care and best practices as it applies to individuals with substance use and concurrent mental health and physical health disorders, including special populations i.e. pregnant women and transitional age youth, who are receiving medical withdrawal management, medical detox or stabilization on opioid agonist therapy.
2. Assess patients who are experiencing alcohol/opioid intoxication or alcohol/opioid withdrawal, including assessment using CIWA and COWS scales.
3. Assess patients' intoxication and withdrawal symptoms from other substances.
4. Identify complicating physical health issues (i.e. cirrhosis, hepatitis C, HIV) and potential emergencies (i.e., overdose, seizure, delirium tremens) and triage patients appropriately for physician assessment.
5. Provide harm reduction teaching and education around opioid use, alcohol use, and other substance use, including providing naloxone kits to patients and families.
6. Recognize patient readiness to change, engaging patients using motivational interviewing techniques.
7. Complete mental status exam and risk assessments.
8. Assess common co-occurring mental health issues and intervene appropriately.
9. Safe preparation and administration of high risk medication.
10. Responsible for planning admissions, discharges, and transfers.
11. Liaise with community, primary care, public health, acute care/emergency departments, and internal referral sources.
12. Responsible for providing holistic nursing care (e.g., assessments, care planning, discharge planning) using effective verbal and written communication skills, observation, intervention, and group skills.
13. Ability to provide teaching to patients, families, and other staff members.
14. Lead and participate in evidence-based group, family, and individual counselling, including use of motivational interviewing techniques.
15. Take in-charge duties and responsibilities as required.
16. Manage and direct the care of patients in rapidly changing situations.
17. Work collaboratively and effectively as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
18. Participation in Program and Discipline related committees.
19. Able to perform patient restraint as outlined by the Task Analysis - patient restraint (physical).
20. Able to rotate between services within SUCD program.
21. Work in a manner that is in compliance with staff and patient/client safety practices, policies, and procedures of The Royal.
22. Ensure a work environment that is conducive to The Royal’s Anti-Racism, Harassment, & Discrimination Free Workplace Policy.
23. Other assigned duties as required.

Qualifications:

1. Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
2. BSc.N preferred.
3. Certification in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing is preferred.
4. Certification in Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders is an asset.
5. Knowledge and experience working with individuals with substance use disorders is required.
6. Knowledge of medical detox, withdrawal management, and opioid agonist therapy protocols and medications mandatory.
7. Experience identifying the signs and symptoms of withdrawal and intoxication from alcohol, opioid, and other substances.
8. Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Substance Use and mental health principles.
9. Knowledge of harm reduction approaches and ability to integrate within care planning and delivery.
10. Current practice according to the Standards of Practice for Nurses in Ontario.
11. Clear understanding of MHA and relevant legislation.
12. Able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in mental health, substance use and concurrent disorders, and physical health complications.
13. Minimum of 2 years recent nursing experience in Psychiatry, substance use, or concurrent disorders within a multidisciplinary team.
14. Mandatory recent experience working with patients with complex and severe substance use disorders.
15. CPR certification within the last 12 months.
16. WHMIS update in preceding 12 months.
17. Completion of Prevention and Management of Disturbed Behaviour workshop or Safety in the Workplace Workshop/Suicide Intervention workshop.
18. Must complete workload measurement and RAI-MH training upon hire. Input into the workload measurement and RAI-MH systems are required on an ongoing basis.
19. English level A- is mandatory in oral expression, oral comprehension, reading comprehension, and written expression. French level A- is mandatory in oral expression and written expression.