Registered Nurse (RN) / Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN), Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC), Correctional Health Services - Oliver, BC

Job ID 2429560_pl355 Date posted 08/13/2025

Registered Nurse (RN) / Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Oliver, BC

This Casualopportunity is with Okanagan Correctional Centre located in Oliver, BC.

Are you a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse who approaches care with compassion and a trauma-informed mindset? Do you thrive in a role that challenges you, offers variety, and allows you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others? If you value working alongside an interdisciplinary team to tackle complex health issues, and you’re committed to using trauma-informed practice, harm reduction, and Indigenous Cultural Safety, this position in correctional health services is made for you.

What is Correctional Health Services

Correctional Health Services is a province-wide, specialized program providing care for clients who are incarcerated in one of BC’s 10 provincial correctional facilities. We believe everyone deserves a chance to access and receive the same quality of care as they would in the community.

What you’ll do

• Provide direct trauma informed health care services to clients presenting with a wide variety and complexity of illnesses/diseases including communicable diseases, substance use challenges, mental health and general health issues. Perform physical, substance use and psychiatric assessments, collect specimens, refer clients to the physician for further examination, administer prescribed treatments and medication according to protocols and make appropriate adjustments. Triage Health Service Requests from clients and make appropriate treatment plan or referrals,
• Observe, monitor, evaluate, assess and document client progress, symptoms, and behavioral changes and perform a variety of health care interventions utilizing nursing skills and medical equipment including therapeutic interventions using a variety of modalities. Initiate and facilitate discharge planning in collaboration with the interprofessional treatment team; identify referrals to other health professionals.
• Provide education and support to clients and groups using a health promotion approach regarding matters such as contraception, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections and minor dermatology problems.
• Work collaboratively with other health care professionals, client, family and community in the identification and resolution of health issues, cultural and language barriers, ethical dilemmas and coordination and integration of care, and make referrals to other service providers as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate computerized and paper records in accordance with established procedures and policies; prepare and maintain statistical information, correspondence, reports and other documentation. Document patient/family perspectives and nursing observations.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College or Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Two (2) years’ recent experience providing trauma informed acute or community health nursing care/services to patients who have a combination of physical, psychiatric and/or concurrent substance abuse/misuse disorders or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Successful completion of Occupational First Aid II (OFA II) (or OFA III techniques for positions at Ford Mountain Correctional Centre)

Skills & Knowledge

• Working knowledge of community health nursing theory including mental health and addictions, communicable diseases, primary care and practice within a patient/family-centered approach.
• Knowledge of the BC Mental Health Act, other facilities and community resources.
• Working knowledge of facilitation, mediation, and conflict resolution techniques. Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events
• Awareness of and commitment to learning and understanding the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and other related reports.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

** Please indicate in your cover letter why you are interested in joining our team at the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC)!

*If you are a new grad (graduated in the last 18 months and have NOT completed the new grad program at another health authority), we ask all new grads apply to one posting. You can find the posting and more information about our new grad program through this link:

What we do

(BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges. BCMHSUS is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs:

BCMHSUS and PHSA are committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at .

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.