The Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) Nurse's primary responsibility is to provide immediate assessment, intervention, and crisis support for individuals presenting to the Emergency Department with symptoms related to serious and severe psychiatric, addiction, and/or psychosocial concerns.
Working collaboratively with hospital colleagues in a fast-paced environment, the PES Nurse provides assessments for patients attending the Urgent Care Clinic and, in collaboration with psychiatrists, delivers one-to-one support within the Discharge and Transition (DAT) Team, a time-limited service that bridges care from inpatient settings to the community. The PES Nurse functions as part of an interdisciplinary team by conducting mental status assessments, gathering collateral information, providing follow-up counselling and therapeutic interventions, and facilitating referrals to outpatient and community resources. Practice is guided by Sunnybrook's Patient-Focused Care philosophy.
This evening position functions across both Psychiatric Emergency Services and the inpatient mental health program. The PES Nurse supports the delivery of patient care on the inpatient mental health unit and responds to psychiatric emergency consultations as required. This shared-care model promotes continuity of care across the mental health program while ensuring timely access to emergency psychiatric assessment and intervention. Working across both settings, the nurse collaborates closely with psychiatrists, residents, and interdisciplinary team members to provide timely assessment, intervention, and continuity of care for patients throughout their mental health care journey. This role offers a unique opportunity to develop expertise across emergency and inpatient mental health services while contributing to an integrated, patient-centred model of care.
Qualifications/Skills
- Current College of Nurses of Ontario registration required
- Baccalaureate degree in Nursing, Masters preferred
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Certification preferred
- Non-violent Crisis Intervention certification
- Minimum of three years recent, related experience in crisis intervention in the fields of mental health and addictions
- Demonstrated knowledge and implementation of best practice guidelines in crisis intervention and crisis theory
- Demonstrated excellent risk assessment and counseling skills
- Demonstrated ability to work with and advocate for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness
- Demonstrated ability to develop care plans for those in crisis
- Demonstrated ability to develop and foster community linkages and resources
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to establish therapeutic alliance with patients with various mental health diagnoses
- Demonstrated commitment to providing quality customer service in dealing with the public (patients and families) as well as various clinical professionals
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary team
- Comprehensive knowledge of psychotropic drugs
- Self-directed and able to work effectively with minimal supervision
- Collaborates with the Mental Health Inpatient unit to expedite the flow of admitted patients
- Comprehensive knowledge of community resources for those affected by mental illness
- Ability to problem solve, prioritize, be flexible and manage time effectively required
