Job Description

Unity Health Toronto, comprised of Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph's Health Centre and St. Michael's Hospital, works to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Our health network serves patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education. Join our team in our mission to continue to put patients and families at the centre of everything we do, in the role of Nurse Practitioner.


As a member of the interprofessional primary care team of the Family Medicine/Urban Family Health Team, the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner is expected to participate in all aspects of primary health care NP practice, including supporting a panel of patients receiving their primary care from the NP and supporting the team in the provision of same day appointments, home visiting and outreach for patients who face barriers to accessing care in the clinic setting and be able to provide care to a diverse population. The NP will provide integrative primary care services to individuals with a specific disease or health problem and will manage (or co-manage with a specialist physician) a group of clients with chronic disease. The incumbent will also support health promotion and disease prevention within our primary care population, including those with limited ambulatory needs.


The Primary Care Nurse Practitioner provides leadership and collaborates with the physician group and the interprofessional team to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate client, family and community centred programs and services. The successful candidate will model, promote, facilitate and evaluate primary care clinical practices supported by the best evidence and quality improvement initiatives. The Primary Care Nurse Practitioner collaborates in the implementation of strategic plans, evaluation and programming in alignment with the goals of the provincial Family Health Team and Primary Care Action Plan.


The successful candidate will perform duties within the scope of practice of the RN (EC) including conducting complete and focused physical assessments, communicating health findings and diagnoses, prescribing treatments and medications, ordering laboratory tests, diagnostic ultrasounds and x-rays. As well, they will provide health education and counseling to patients related to identified health issues; consult and collaborate with other professional staff concerning clinical issues, and coupled with sound knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention strategies, clinical therapeutics, community health care programs, services, agencies and other specialists, as appropriate.

The NP works within 4 domains of practice:

Clinical Domain: the NP:

Diagnoses and treats previously undiagnosed clients for undifferentiated diseases, illnesses and conditions within the Nurse Practitioner's scope of practice; orders appropriate screening diagnostic investigations; interprets reports of investigations and analyzes information to monitor progress and plan treatment. As part of the interprofessional team, develops and implements treatment plans. Writes orders for treatment and medications, monitors ongoing care and provides first line of care in emergencies. Establishes priorities for management of health conditions; provides follow-up treatment; communicates with clients and families about health findings, diagnoses and prognoses; supports and counsels clients in their personal responses to diseases, disorders and conditions. Collaborates and/or consults with physicians or other health care and social service providers as appropriate to assess and diagnose client status. Accepts referrals from, or makes referrals to, physicians and other health professionals. Prescribes drugs and orders and interpret diagnostic imaging reports within the statutory and regulatory standards, limits and conditions of RN, Extended Class and within applicable employer policies and procedures. Applies knowledge of pharmacology and evidence based practice in selecting, prescribing, administering and monitoring the effects of drugs to treat diseases disorders, conditions or injuries. As per the specific needs of the department, evening shifts may be required.

Knowledge Translation: The NP

Participates in maintaining leading nurse research contributing to improved patient care and advances in nursing, health policy development and population health and within a quality improvement framework. Synthesizes qualitative and quantitative data from a variety of sources about determinants of health; maintains population health focus by participating in and implementing evidence based screening and health promotion for populations at risk and implements population based harm-reduction strategies. Gathers and documents patient and statistical information for the purposes of quarterly and annual reporting to the Program and Ministry, and others as required.

Scholarship: The NP

Contributes to the culture of discovery at St. Joseph's by advancing and/or appraising nursing research. Evaluates outcomes of practice, practice patterns and systems of care against local and national benchmarks to identify variances in practice outcomes and population trends. Identifies issues related to clinical practice and patient care and develops innovations to improve care and care delivery for patients, families, and communities. Designs, directs, participates in and evaluates quality improvement methodologies to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care.

Leadership: The NP

Provides leadership, teaching and functional guidance to professional staff and other learners from interprofessional group, including Family Medicine Residents and Nurse Practitioners; participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, procedures and protocols; develop and administer a health care plan appropriate to client needs, including advocacy and referral to healthcare and/or social agencies, among others.

Qualifications:

Master's Degree in Nursing and completion of a Primary Health Care (PHC) Nurse Practitioner Certification required. Current registration in the Extended Class (NP - PHC) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario required. Member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario preferred, member of NPAO required. Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification required. Evidence of completion of education to prescribe controlled substances required by the College of Nurses of Ontario. Three years' recent primary care nursing experience in a community setting, preferably in an underserviced area, or in combination of community and hospital or ambulatory/ public health settings required Previous experience as a CNS and/or ACNP, preferred. Advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning skills Knowledge of the principles of adult education and excellent verbal and written presentation skills Strong understanding of anti-racism, health equity, social responsibility & inclusion frameworks. Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to establish positive relationships with all physicians, staff, patients/clients, families, and community agencies Excellent creative self-directive and problem solving ability and critical thinking skills and able to work independently in collaboration with interprofessional team Experience with research methodology, program planning and evaluation Demonstrated Experience in Change Management and Quality Improvement methodology and Lean practices an asset. Proficiency with computer applications, including clinical management systems and electronic medical record (preferably Practice Solutions' Suite) Second language an asset. Satisfactory attendance record.

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity