Registered Nurse (RN) - Outpatient Adult Mental Health

We deliver a wide range of healthcare services to the communities of northern York Region and southern Simcoe County. Our advanced regional programs include Cancer Care and Cardiac Care and serve a broader population across the northern GTA and into Simcoe-Muskoka.

Our team of nearly 6,000 staff, physicians, volunteers, students and Patient and Family Advisors are committed to creating an environment where the best experiences happen.

As a recognition of our commitment to quality and patient safety, we have received the highest distinction of Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada.

Job Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) role models clinical excellence and the core competencies of the practice standards of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), as well as the policies and procedures of Southlake Regional Health Centre (Southlake).

The RN works collaboratively as a member of the health care team. The RN provides direct patient care to patients based on the three-factor framework as outlined in the College of Nurses of Ontario standard, RN and RPN Practice : The Client, Nurse and the Environment.

These three factors have an impact on decision making related to care-provider assignment as well as the need for consultation and collaboration among care providers.

All nurses make a commitment to lifelong learning.

The successful candidate will be motivated, self-directed and a key member of a dynamic interdisciplinary team with defined roles focused on quality patient care and patient flow.

The successful candidate will be responsible to provide excellent care to a diverse acute medical patient population in a fast-paced setting.

The Adult Outpatient Mental Health RN will be responsible to run the ECT program, providing treatment, recovery and education to inpatients, outpatients and their caregivers.

In addition, the Adult Outpatient Mental Health RN will be able to provide comprehensive clinical intervention with mental clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness in all clinics within the Adult Outpatient program ie.

Schizophrenia clinic, RAPT clinic, Discharge clinic and Wellness and Recovery program as required. Primarily this will include medication administration and monitoring, teaching and counselling regarding treatment, education around the course and treatment of the illness, psycho-educational group work, follow up consultation with physicians, both hospital and in the community.

The RN will use a Recovery Based model which stresses clients strengths, linkages to the community and health living.

Primary Responsibilities

• Reviews all appropriate referral, conducts intakes and follow up appointments
• Conducts and documents complete mental health assessment including risk assessment
• Provides ECT health teaching to patients and their caregivers
• Is responsible to book all ECT treatments
• Provides pre and post ECT interventions with the patient
• Provides ECT treatment and recovery in collaboration with the Psychiatrist and PACU team
• Provides medication administration, injection and oral, of psychotropic medications as well as follow up and monitoring
• Provides health teaching regarding medications
• Provide counselling around issues pertaining to living with serious mental illness
• Provide psycho-educational group work
• Provides consultation to community partners regarding psychiatric follow up
• Provides patient and family focused care within the RN scope of practice, based on the three factor framework of the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Functions in accordance with established hospital policies and procedures, including emergency codes.
• Ensures that practice is consistent with entry to practice competencies, standards of practice, guidelines and legislation.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families and all members of the healthcare team.
• Practices collaboratively with members of the healthcare team to provide elements of care for patients / clients with complex health issues.
• Practices collaboratively with other members of the interprofessional health care team.
• Provides consultation and / or clinical support to peers as needed
• Contributes to the assessment and documentation of each patient's health status on an ongoing basis.
• Assists in the development and implementation of the Plan of Care and evaluates its ongoing effectiveness.
• Assists in the orientation / preceptorship of new staff members and students to the clinical units.
• Acts as a role model and champion to identify and integrate safe, best practices into daily activities to foster the delivery of safe and exemplary care.
• Takes a leadership role in the coordination of patient care in assigned area
• Assumes charge nurse role when assigned
• Assists in the orientation / preceptorship of new staff members and students
• Effectively utilizes human and material resources
• Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical pathways
• Provides consultation and / or clinical support to peers as needed
• Other duties as assigned by Manager / delegate.

Qualifications

• Registered and in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) as a Registered Nurse
• Current BCLS certificate required
• Three to five years’ experience in acute mental health (recent)
• Non Violent Crisis Prevention certificate
• Must have an excellent understanding and experience with electroconvulsive therapy, the mechanism of treatment, indications, side effects and recovery.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of DSM 1V classification
• Ability to conduct complex mental status assessments
• Must have an excellent level of understanding and experience of both oral and IM psychiatric medications, their use , administration, side-effect and contraindications
• Excellent working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, including CTO
• CNA mental health certificate preferred
• YWCA life skills and or CBT certificate preferred
• Group therapy / psycho education skills preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in an interprofessional team environment
• Prevention and management of potentially aggressive patients
• Must be able to use nursing diagnosis and primary care nursing care delivery system
• Demonstrates excellence in electronic documentation and navigation skill with electronic medical records.
• Analysis / problem assessment, critical thinking skills
• Innovative, willing to learn and adaptable to changing work milieu
• BScN preferred
• Current ACLS certificate preferred
• Excellent physical assessment skills
• Demonstrates excellent problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrates excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to function both independently and as an interprofessional team member in a fast paced demanding environment
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and public relations skills
• Demonstrates excellent clinical skills and professional leadership capabilities with a focus on collaborative teamwork, patient flow and quality improvements
• Demonstrates understanding and complies with patient and staff safety policies and procedures that foster a safe and inclusive environment for all
• Good working knowledge of Electronic Documentation
• Commitment to providing an exceptional experience for patients, family and staff
• Demonstrated commitment to, and understanding of the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Models behaviour that is aligned with the values of Southlake Regional Health Center

As a condition of employment, you are required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination to the Hospital’s Occupational Health and Safety department.

Successful candidates will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination (two doses) from the Ontario Ministry of Health website or other authorized source directly to the Occupational Health and Safety department.

In the event that you are unable to be vaccinated as a result of a ground protected under the Human Rights Code, you may submit a written explanation of the ground and any supporting documentation to determine if you are exempt from this requirement to the recruitment team.