Nurse Practitioner

Who we are:

Canadian Mental Health Association Durham is an integrated community mental health and primary care hub that has been providing mental health services to Durham Region for over 60 years.

During that time, it has evolved to provide a broad range of services to individuals and their families experiencing mental health challenges, from information and education to case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, housing and primary healthcare. These services are provided through inter-professional teams focused on providing clinically based services that, in addition to dealing with client mental health issues, address social determinants of health using the recovery model.

Overview of the role:

The Nurse Practitioner provides services to complex clients throughout their lifespan, the client family, and the community. There is a strong emphasis on health promotion, patient education and disease prevention in a psychiatric and addictions treatment setting.

This individual will also participate as a member of a high performance, multi-service team of Case Managers, nurses and other health specialists providing Primary Care to clients within the HART Hub residential setting.

Location: HART Hub employees may begin work at 60 Bond St. West, and will move to the designated HART Hub location in Oshawa at a later date. 

Responsibilities: 

Assessment

• Working within the scope of practice of the RN (EC), performs a comprehensive health or symptom directed assessment synthesizing data from multiple sources to make diagnosis, as part of a comprehensive health care team
• Systematically assesses clients to determine the presence of existing and potential health problems, with a major focus on related lifestyle, psychological, sociocultural, and environmental risk factors influencing the client’s health status; providing individualized care or by referral to or in consultation with, other health care providers.
• In accordance with the philosophy of primary health care, encourages clients and families to take responsibility for their own health by involving them in risk factor and health problem identification, goal setting, and the choices of interventions for disease treatment and prevention, health promotion
• Works within medical directives as established and approved by CMHA Durham and collaborating physicians
• Determines, orders and interprets the results of indicated diagnostic imaging within the scope of practice
• Determines the need for and orders and interprets reports of diagnostic Imaging within the scope of RN(EC) practice
• Keeps complete, accurate, legible and timely records of client visits, to provide information assisting other practitioners in continuing the client’s care
• Sees clients for scheduled and urgent assessment across the continuum of need, during regular and extended hour in all service areas (including MUP)
• Identifies and responds to urgent/emergent health issues in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team

Treatment

• Identifies and responds to urgent/emergent health issues in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
• Provides advanced nursing care and treatment (including pharmacological, complementary therapies and/or counselling interventions) for complex client conditions and based on best practices for the target population and within the RN(EC) scope of practice
• Monitors the efficacy and adjusts the clinical care plan to meet client needs, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
• Documents using client health records, refers to and arranges follow-up as necessary
• Implements strategies to foster optimized and healthier lifestyles
• Synthesizes information from individual clients to identify broader implications within the social context of the client Ensures that encounter forms and other statistics have been recorded and participates in their analysis
• Ensures that encounter forms and other statistics have been recorded and participates in their analysis
• Involves and encourages clients in decisions and actions about their own health
• Provides health education for clients across the continuum of care with a focus on mental health and addiction recovery

Organizational Role

• Uses community assessment data to identify community needs and resources to assist the organization in developing, implementing and evaluating appropriate programming
• Maintaining current knowledge of policies, reading minutes of meetings and keeping up to date with organizational happenings
• Contributing to quality performance across the organization and the attainment of strategic organizational goals
• Arranging priorities as necessary to perform tasks
• Knowing established work and administrative procedures

Client Safety

Adhere to CMHA Durham client safety programs including program policies as well as infection control and prevention procedures. In partnership with clients, family members, and fellow staff, maintain open lines of communication to assist the organization in identifying and achieving quality outcomes for client safety. Report client safety incidents and suggested improvements to manager or delegate.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Attend, participate in team meetings and all employee meetings
• Participate in organizational quality improvement activities, e.g. accreditation projects, committee work, special events
• Participate in quality improvement activities at the team/program level

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position.

Effort

• Sits, stands and walks daily to perform the duties of the job
• Concentration, attentiveness and creativity required daily to assess clients, administer medications/ injections, attend meetings, manage system of medicine administration, prepare documents, listen to clients, use nursing equipment, etc., as well as may lift walkers and push wheelchairs as needed
• Committed to self-care to maintain therapeutic competencies

Risk Management:

Minimizes risks adhering to CMHA Durham Policies and Procedures identifying, assessing, evaluating and controlling risks ensuring well-being of employees and clients.

Qualifications:

• Member of the Council of Ontario University Program in Nursing Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program Certificate (or recognized equivalent) in good standing

• Master's in nursing or health-related field required
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario as an RN(EC) required
• Current Membership with the NPAO

• Current Ontario Driver’s License is an asset
• Experience with electronic medical records system is an asset

• Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, and other related legislation in Ontario is an asset
• Sound knowledge of psychotropic medications including usage and potential side effects
• Ability to manage a system of medication checks ensuring accuracy
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients and community partners
• Represent the organization in a professional manner always
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills and the ability to formally present information to individuals or groups to develop, implement and monitor nursing care plans and attend meetings
• Ability to resolve complex problems to ensure high quality client experiences
• Excellent assessment and organizational skills
• Ability to work with individuals of diverse backgrounds
• Flexibility to adapt to change and support any function required within the clinic (i.e. injections, phlebotomy, administrative support)
• Ability to work independently when necessary
• Ability to think critically and creatively
• Ability to make accurate nursing assessments and implement best practices
• Ability to minimize risks adhering to established policies and procedures

• Ability to participate as a member of a high performance multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), internet

• Knowledge of Indigenous communities and cultural practices (preferred).
• Intermediate proficiency in written and verbal French is an asset
• Work outside of normal business hours as required in compliance with the Disconnect from Work policy.  

Working Conditions

• Works in a low-barrier community treatment environment
• Exposure to clients in crisis
• Exposure to hazards such as blood/bodily fluids and cleaning fluids
• Some exposure to hazards such as needles, medications, etc.
• Exposure to unpredictable psychiatric behaviors that may be considered offensive (abusive/irate clients), deadlines, multiple demands, distractions/Interruptions

What we offer:

CMHA Durham is a non-profit community-based organization that believes that mental and physical health care is for everyone regardless of class, race, sexuality, gender, age, faith, or ability. With a flexible working model (within reasonable parameters of the program), memberships to meditation apps, competitive vacation, wellness time and 100% employer paid health benefits, work-life balance is not only encouraged but expected. Our Monday – Friday work week has 35 hours for most position and everyone gets their birthday off with pay.

Read more about us at CMHADurham.org/getinvolved.

CMHA Durham endorses the principles of workforce diversity and does not use AI algorithms or automated decision-making in the recruitment process.   All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please advise us if you require any level of accommodation; we are here to help and support you.