Street Outreach Nurse

Vancouver Island Health Authority; Ladysmith, Nanaimo; On-site; CAD 57,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Vancouver Island Health Authority is seeking a Street Outreach Nurse to serve Ladysmith, BC, with travel between multiple sites as a regular requirement. The role prioritizes harm reduction and disease control for HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STI, with a clinical focus and educational component.

It requires a nursing degree, RN(C) registration, STI certification, immunization competency, and a valid BC driver's license.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a recognized nursing program with community or public health component.
• A minimum of 5 years' nursing experience, with at least 2 years in public health and reportable diseases.
• Registration with BC College of Nurses and Midwives as RN(C). STI Certification; Immunization Competency.

Responsibilities

• Provide street outreach nursing with harm-reduction approach to prevent reportable diseases.
• Support and educate clients; assist in testing and counseling for HIV, TB, hepatitis and STI.
• Collaborate with MHO and work across multiple sites; maintain safety and professional standards.

Skills

Public health

Harm reduction

Cultural safety

Communication skills

Epidemiology basics

Venipuncture

First Aid/CPR

Team collaboration

Education

Nursing degree

Job description

Ladysmith Community Health Centre (LCHC) - Ladysmith, BC V0R 2E0 CA
Nanaimo Health Centre (NHC) - Nanaimo, BC V9S 5K7 CA (Primary)

Work Area (FBA Only)

Multi-Site

Yes

Travel Requirement

Travel between multiple sites is a regular/on-going requirement

Shift Start Time/End Time

08:30-16:30

Days Off

Vacancy Type

Regular FT

Salary Range (Hourly Rate)

$41.42 - $59.52

Paid FTE

1.0

Worked BI-WEEKLY HOURS

75

Planned Start Date

Aug. 10 2026

Approximate End Date (For Temporary Assignments ONLY)

Pending Return of Incumbent

No

CRC required? (employee will be working with or have access to children or vulnerable adults and requires a Criminal Record Check)

Yes

Job Description

In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, and Values, and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health), patient and staff safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone; as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Street Outreach Nurse is an integral part of the designated program and works under the direction of the Manager or designate. The role of the Street Outreach Nurse is based on the philosophy of harm reduction and focused on duties related to the prevention and control of reportable communicable disease specifically but not limited to HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted infection (STI). Practice is consistent with BC College of Nurses and Midwives professional and practice standards. The target population is those who are street involved and at high risk or already infected with reportable communicable disease as noted above and who frequently suffer with mental health and/or addiction issues. The role is largely clinical with a complimentary educational component. The Street Nurse provides support to the MHO in the control and prevention of communicable disease, as per Bill 23, Public Health (PH) Act, 2008.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training And Experience

Graduation from a recognized nursing program with community or public health component. A minimum of 5 years' nursing experience, a minimum of 2 of which is public health related preferably in the area of reportable communicable disease. Registration with BC College of Nurses and Midwives as a practicing RN(C) registrant. STI Certification with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives; Immunization Competency BC.

A valid BC driver's license is required.

Skills And Abilities

• A comprehensive knowledge of communicable diseases in general and specifically counseling, testing, and prophylaxis of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STI and treatment of TB and STI;
• Basic skills in epidemiology;
• HIV Partner Notification and Pre and Post Test Counseling with BCCDC are preferred
• An enhanced knowledge of application of harm reduction philosophy and principles to practice;
• An enhanced knowledge of cultural safety and application to practice; and
• A basic knowledge of mental health issues, illicit drug use and problematic use of alcohol.
• Nursing clinical skills related to examination and testing for a range of communicable diseases including, but not limited to, HIV, viral hepatitis, STI and TB, including: Venopuncture, female pelvic exams, STI exam, pap test, male STI exam, TB skin and sputum test, interpretation of laboratory results.
• First Aid and CPR;
• Basic skills in identifying drug induced and intoxicated states and withdrawal symptoms;
• Violence prevention and defusing violent behavior;
• Ability to work effectively and safely in an unstructured environment;
• Excellent communication, public relations, interpersonal, and networking skills with the ability to develop professional, relationships of trust with clients that will engage them in the clinical aspects of the Street Nurse Program and, when ready, to move them towards safer lifestyle practices and more mainstream health care services;
• Ability to monitor and report, on a qualitative basis, heath related issues that affect the target population;
• Ability to educate and present to client, professional and community groups;
• Ability to apply a community development approach when working with client and community groups; and

This posting is an outreach position working with vulnerable, pregnant women with addictions and housing instability.

Additional Clauses

A first in Canada: minimum Nurse to Patient Ratios (mNPR) are starting in BC! Island Health, alongside other health authorities, is implementing mNPR as a transformative staffing solution that aims to improve the working environment of nurses in order to provide better quality care to our patients.