Job Description

Title: Primary Care Mental Health and Substance Use Registered Nurse

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

The North Vancouver Island PCI Health Society and its employees are committed to a proactive holistic approach to health and wellness, and to the delivery of primary care services which are sustainable and honour the customs and traditions of First Nations communities located in the North Vancouver Island (10 North Vancouver Island Nations).

POSITION SUMMARY

The Primary Care Mental Health and Substance Use Registered Nurse position is part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary primary care team that provides team-based, trauma-informed services by creating a culturally safe environment to promote, maintain, and/or restore client health. This position will work from a harm reduction lens, actively contributing to ensuring a racism and stigma-free environment for all clients, their families, and staff. The Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse provides care and services that meet the standards for Registered Nurses within the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), and works within the scope of practice for Registered Nurses as determined by relevant legislation. The Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse will be available for services to the 10 North Vancouver Island Nations in the communities (Health Centre's) and in urban settings associated with Kwakwaka'wakw Primary Care Initiative (Kwakiutl, Mamalilikulla First Nation, Dzawada'enuxw First Nation, Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis First Nation, Gwawaenuk Tribe, Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations, T'?at?asik'wa?la'la First Nation, Quatsino First Nation, 'Namgis First Nation and Da'naxda'xw First Nation). The regular hours of the Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse position will be full -time Monday- Friday (7 hours/day) 0830-1630, at 35 hours weekly.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Supports all aspects of holistic therapeutic care of patients with mental health and/or substance use concerns while meeting the standards for Registered Nurses within the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and working from a culturally humble, trauma and violence-informed, and harm reduction approach.

2. Collaborates with the First Nation Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI) health team, the health and family teams of each Nation, Traditional Healers, families, and community resources as needed to support client-identified goals, as appropriate.

3. Monitors, assesses, and documents observations, symptoms, interventions and changes in client holistic health status.

4. Supports clients' mental health as part of holistic primary care. This may include mental health and suicide risk assessment, case management, mental health crisis management, complex case management, counselling using brief intervention modalities and motivational interviewing and providing referrals as necessary.

5. Using a client-led approach, collaborates with clients and families to plan, implement, coordinate, and evaluate client care plans in consultation with members of interprofessional health team as needed. Reviews clinical findings with client/family and the interprofessional team.

6. Evaluates treatment outcomes to ensure the effectiveness of services through continuous follow-up plans and actions.

7. Liaises with referring/after-care agencies (community clinics, mental health and substance use teams, professionals, and private practitioners).

8. Communicates regularly with the FNPCI Team Leads and primary care teams.

9. Collaborates with First Nation health leaders to identify and address gaps, barriers and challenges of service delivery and offer solutions.

10. Provides consultation, education and information on mental wellness to families, community and caregivers as needed.

11. Maintains working knowledge of DSM V diagnoses particularly complex psychiatric diagnoses and treatments, substance use treatments including Opioid Agonist Treatment, and referrals for residential treatment, and the current standards of practice, as well as relevant legislations such as the Mental Health Act and the Child, Family and Community Service Act.

12. Provides community-based care and team consultation in collaboration with community teams particularly for complex psychiatric issues, including involuntary admissions under the mental health act and extended leaves.

13. Monitors and follows up client lab and diagnostic test results and ensure that physicians are aware of abnormal results needing follow up.

14. Supports with client medication review, education, and reconciliation.

15. Provides care and service that meets and/or exceed the standards for Registered Nurses within the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

16. Works within the scope of practice for Registered Nurses or Registered Psychiatric Nurses as determined by relevant legislation.

17. Performs other related duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or Diploma of Psychiatric Nursing from a recognized university/college.

-Provincial Opioid Addiction Treatment Support Program considered an asset

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION

- Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)

- BCCNM CP-OUD considered an asset. Current First Aid certification and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) certificate within first three (3) months of employment. Valid BC Drivers License.

EXPERIENCE

- A minimum of 3 years of recent related experience in acute and/or community mental health setting.

- Experience working with adults and youth with mental health and substance use issues.

- Experience working with and delivering health services to First Nations clients, Training in anti-Indigenous racism response and cultural safety and humility

- Experience integrating holistic Indigenous approaches with Western approaches

KNOWLEDGE

- Strong knowledge and ability to apply of cultural safety, humility and trauma-informed approaches to practice

-Knowledge of, and ability to apply an understanding of First Nations cultural principles and protocols in work situations

- Understanding of own intersectionality, power, privilege, and how these concepts may impact own work and perspectives

- Knowledge of concurrent disorders and complexity of intergenerational trauma on substance use and misuse

- Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects), trauma-informed practice, and chronic diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C

- Knowledge of health status of populations, inequities in health, the social determinants of health and illness, principles of primary care, strategies for health promotion, disease and injury prevention, health protection, curative, urgent and emergent care, rehabilitation and supportive or palliative care

- Knowledge of nursing which includes the nursing process, conceptual frameworks of nursing, theories and principles of nursing practice

-Demonstrated understanding and integration of Trauma-Informed Practice to care

- Knowledge of motivational interviewing and brief therapy modalities

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $42.00-$56.00 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Company events Extended health care Paid time off
Work Location: In person