Role and Responsibilities:
1. Screens mental health referrals, conducts assessments and problem formulation from a DSM 5 perspective, presents assessments to the team, and assists the team in determining suitability for various service options. Provides urgent response services, direct nursing care and cultural support for ongoing mental health wellness. Coordinates the provision of initial medical screening to identify physical conditions that may complicate psychiatric presentation. Screens lab values for potential problems, and reports these to treating physicians. Administers medications in accordance with physicians’ orders, and monitors the effects of treatment.
2. Provides short term intensive and longer-term clinical case management, leads educational and support groups, initiates Rehabilitation Worker involvement in helping client to attain improvement in activities of daily living (i.e., resource access, work, education, leisure), engages in shared care activities with family physicians, and co-leads mental health/substance use and psychoeducation, change oriented groups.
3. Receives, investigates and documents designated agency reports of adult abuse and neglect; determines if vulnerable adults require support or assistance; and develops support and assistance plans in accordance with the mandate of a designated agency.
4. Determines if an adult is (in) capable of giving consent to health care: obtains substitute consent from a temporary substitute decision maker (TSDM); determines whether a TSDM is acting in accordance with their duties; develops plans for minor health care and provides triage, preliminary examinations, treatment for health care in accordance with the health Care (Consent) and Care Facilities (Admissions) Act.
5. Develops support and assistance plans for abused and neglected adults and for obtaining authority to enter premises to determine if health care should be provided in accordance with Part 3 of the Adult Guardianship Act, in addition to connecting survivors with elders in community.
6. Participates in the application and evaluation of evidence-based nursing practice: formulates clinical questions about the patients’ concerns, treatments, tests, risk factors; searches for answers to determine what level of evidence is appropriate; reviews the available evidence; uses clinical and life experience to interweave the information with the patient, and observes the information to ensure the client’s response to the treatment.
7. Participates in clinical rounds, culturally relevant events and activities, helps to facilitate treatment by contributing to multidisciplinary assessment, treatment planning, and assists with treatment monitoring and evaluation; along with maintaining a culturally safe space. Shares information with appropriate mental health professionals and family members, as required.
8. Provides education and support to patients, families, and focus groups on such topics as: health and wellness issues, medical condition co-morbidity, chronic disease management, medication effects, substance-use, behavioral and preventative health.
9. Ensures positive engagement and identification of medical diagnosis, supports motivational enhancement, instil resiliency and ensures appropriate connections to follow-up for individuals with impaired insight and/or motivation. Provides post-hospital follow-up for high risk clients and those that are difficult to engage to ensure that necessary community connections have been made.
10. Identifies and assesses potential emergency situations and develops short-term strategies to handle them appropriately, including actions such as applying suicide attentiveness and prevention skills, responding to overdose in accordance with established procedures, using first aid, assisting a client to access drug checking services, and assisting a client to access overdose prevention services.
11. Actively participates in “on-call” and “call-out” schedules to enhance and extend support activities for residents and families in the Complex Care Housing program.
12. Liaises and ensures mental health relationships with complimentary programs and front line service providers such as primary care physicians, community and employment agencies, emergency social service, crisis line volunteers, etc.
13. Maintains up-to-date clinical records by documenting information such as assessment, treatment planning, progress notes, and the delegation of responsibility to rehabilitation support staff. This includes documentation of client input into care plan, any referrals made/accepted, and relevant details regarding caseload terminations.
14. Participates in committees as required to promote formulation, implementation and evaluation of Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives and align with accreditation standards. Contributes to the development and revision of standards of care, policies, and procedures; participates in the resolution of issues; and advocates for improvements in clinical practice and health care that promote optimal support for patients.
15. Maintains up-to-date nursing knowledge and file information with respect to clinical practice, cultural understanding and resource development initiatives to assist with team, service provider, patient and family education.
16. Reports unusual occurrences and risk management issues to the Manager or designate.
17. Participates in required and relevant committees, attends meetings related to job duties as required, in order to provide and receive information as a member of community health services.
18. Demonstrates and/or provides guidance on clinical/health related tasks to nursing students, as required.
19. Prioritizing opportunities for Indigenous community connections, i.e., information booths at NIPD, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, etc.
20. CCH RN will be responsible to accompany the clients (Indigenous women at CCH) to medical appointments
21. Performs other related duties as assigned using an Indigenous approach in a culturally safe space
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training and Experience:
Registered Nurse (RN) License (required)
Graduation from an approved school of nursing.
Four (4) years’ recent related experience in a mental health and substance use environment or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Current practicing registration with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
Current valid B.C. driver’s license.
Food Safe Level 1 Certificate, Advanced First Aid Certificate, Non-violent crisis intervention training, Naloxone Training
Current valid B.C. driver’s license.
Food Safe Level 1 Certificate, Advanced First Aid Certificate, Non-violent crisis intervention training, Naloxone Training
Skills and Abilities:
Assessment and Intervention – Demonstrated ability to complete initial and ongoing client assessments (clinical and diagnostic reasoning) and provide nursing care through appropriate/ prescribed technical, therapeutic, safety type interventions.
Communication – Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with the clients, families, the public, medical staff and the members of the interdisciplinary team using verbal, written and computer communication means.
Critical Thinking – Demonstrated ability to integrate and evaluate pertinent data (from multiple sources) to problem-solve effectively.
Human Caring and Relationship Centered Practice – Ability to promote client-focused care that demonstrates care for and with clients and significant others, sensitive to diverse cultures and preferences, client advocacy and social justice concerns.
Teaching – Ability to transmit information intended to instruct clients and others about topics essential to health care and well-being.
Management – Manages time and resources, implementing activities to promote cooperation among relevant others, collaboration across disciplines and related activities.
Leadership – Promotes staff morale, cooperation, assertiveness and risk-taking, creative planning for change and innovations, implementation of CCH policies or other protocols, and ongoing professional development of self.
Knowledge Integration – Using factual information, prior learning and basic principles and procedures to support decisions and actions with relevant research-based evidence. Integrates best practice from nursing and health-related disciplines and the humanities, arts and sciences disciplines into professional practice. Ability to operate related equipment including relevant computer applications.
