Registered Nurse/Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Primary Care

Job Description

Summary

The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS’ Research & Innovation Centre is a unique and innovative health centre comprised of a multidisciplinary clinical team focused on providing comprehensive care for clients/patients in the Downtown Eastside. The high-quality care provided by the clinical team focuses on HIV/AIDS, HCV and other infectious diseases and is supported and enhanced by ongoing research, innovation and wellness promotion.

The Primary Care Nurse is a member of an interprofessional health care team. Duties include working with the health care team to assess and engage new clients/patients, documenting assessments and developing and carrying out care plans and interventions in consultation with team members. In collaboration with team members, the Primary Care Nurse participates and facilitates team and case management meetings.

Qualifications / Skills and Education

Education
Registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) as a practicing RN registrant or RPN registrant. Two (2) years’ recent related experience working with diverse marginalized populations in health care settings or community in a primary care, HIV, addictions and/or mental health setting, and previous experience working with an interdisciplinary team or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Completion of the Point of Care HIV Testing course and successful completion of the BCCDC Immunization certificate and Narcan Certification and/or commitment to complete within six (6) months of hire.
Demonstrated experience and/or successful completion of recent education/training in performing venipuncture.

Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of and exposure to trauma-informed care, violence prevention, transgender care, harm reduction, recovery-oriented practice and indigenous cultural competency training.
Comprehensive triaging skills for physical health (e.g. respiratory, gastro-intestinal, diabetes) and psychosocial needs.
Demonstrated skill in physical assessments and chronic disease management.
RNs who have a willingness to obtain certified skills (i.e. contraceptive management, assessment/ treatment of sexually transmissible infections) at the discretion of the manager.
Demonstrated knowledge of wound care, addiction assessments, harm reduction, HIV and HCV testing, phlebotomy, diabetes care, pain management, and pregnancy and urine drug tests.
Demonstrated knowledge of client/patient-centered education principles, methods and tools as it relates to healthcare needs including pain, addiction, diabetes, wound care.
Ability to role model and employ effective conflict resolution, de-escalation and reconciliation approaches and techniques.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Demonstrated knowledge and ability to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedures appropriate for the area of service.
Ability to work as a member in an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to apply decision making and analytical skills.
Ability to deal with others effectively.
Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
Ability to prioritize and organize work.
Ability to operate related equipment.
Ability to teach and identify patient/client learning needs.
Ability to lead patient/client group sessions.
Ability to provide clinical direction.

Duties and Responsibilities

Utilizes chronic disease and health management and/or self-care management principles to conduct assessments, identify problems, and address issues or variances from the plan of care, in collaboration with the appropriate physician and/or interdisciplinary team member.

Triages for physical health (e.g. respiratory, gastro-intestinal, diabetes) and psychosocial needs.

Performs primary care nursing duties within scope of practice as they relate to wound care, addiction assessments, harm reduction, HIV and HCV testing, phlebotomy, diabetes care, pain management, and pregnancy and urine drug tests.

RNs with BCCMN certified practice may independently provide contraception management and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) diagnosis, testing, treatment, and follow up.

Documents information including assessments, plan of care, patient/client status and progress and plans in a manual and/or computerized environment.

Provides continuity of care by liaising with interdisciplinary team members, implementing clinical interventions, evaluating client/patient outcomes based on client/patient goals for care, and coordinating ongoing care and supporting transition.

Acts as a resource for the interdisciplinary team by providing information based on nursing theory and practice related to clients/patients with complex health care needs.

Consults, confers, and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members, physicians, educational resources and other health care professionals to achieve excellence in client/patient-centred education and research.

Identifies and responds to patient/client learning needs, provides patient educational and reference materials, incorporates individual teaching activities into the care plan and nursing interventions, and/or makes referrals to other identified resources. Leads group sessions as required and coaches patient/client to develop and maintain health promoting behaviours with the context of the care issue.

Provides direction to other staff such as Licensed Practical Nurses with regard to patient/client care and facilitates effective team work. Responsibilities include but are not limited to collegial sharing of information, demonstrating and/or providing guidance on related tasks, providing incidental or ad hoc input into staff performance, ensuring staff are aware of assignments and reassigning clinical/health related tasks.

Participates in nursing orientation and shares clinical knowledge with other nursing staff and members of the interdisciplinary team. Participates in and attends in-service presentations and other educational programs as required.

Participates in planning, implementation and evaluation of patient/client care policies, procedures, education materials, and best practices through methods such as taking part in program and quality improvement activities including nursing practice council, clinical pathway development, research and education and other committees.

Supports nursing research through methods such as identifying areas for possible clinical nursing research projects, adapting research to practice and participating in research activities to enhance nursing practice.

Advocates for the patients/clients, to protect and promote their rights to dignity, respects, privacy, confidentiality, autonomy and access to information.

Perform other duties as assigned.