Job Description

The Women & Children's Health Program is seeking a Registered Practical Nurse who has a strong interest and experience providing nursing care to patients (newborn to age 18) and their families in our pediatric clinics. As part of a multi-disciplinary team, the Registered Practical Nurse will provide exemplary patient and family centered care in order to best meet the needs, values, and preferences of patients and their families. The Registered Practical Nurse will: apply practical nursing and developmental theory when working with the continuum of pediatric patients; develop a nursing care plan in partnership with the patient, family and interprofessional team; and connect the family with appropriate resources as needed in order to ensure implementation of the care plan is feasible.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

Performs relevant initial and ongoing physical, social, emotional and spiritual assessments using appropriate sources specific to the clinical practice setting. Ensures patient and family needs, values and preferences guide clinical decision making and are integrated into care planning. Recognizes deviation from normal health status; communicates assessment findings to the Pediatrician and takes appropriate action as required. Documents and communicates pertinent patient information in a timely manner. Identifies patient and family's learning and care transition planning needs and communicates this to the interprofessional team. Coordinates outpatient follow-up patient care/services. Fosters patient and family independence and reintegration into their community. Independently provides nursing care to stable, predictable patient populations with low risk of negative outcomes, in a safe, competent, and ethical manner. Provides accurate and consistent evidence based patient teaching in a flexible and creative manner. Maintains an accurate account of care given through clear and concise verbal communication and written/electronic documentation. Processes orders and seeks verification of orders from the ordering physician, or other health care provider if needed.



This role supports other areas in the Women and Children's Health ambulatory area and the successful candidate must be willing to work occasionally (as operational needs dictate) in the obstetric or gynecology clinic.



The RPN has 4 key areas of responsibility:

Patient Care:

Accurately and efficiently acquires information to assess patient care and learning needs; Documents observations, assessments and care provision in a timely manner to facilitate a current and accurate record of the patient's status and enable effective inter-professional communication; Engages patients and families to assess the level of involvement of the patient/family in their care and integrates into care planning; Develops a plan of care and integrates nursing activities with other inter-professional activities; Engages in critical inquiry and reflection to select evidence-based interventions; Organizes nursing care based on patient care needs and priorities; Continuously gathers and analyzes clinical and other relevant data to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan of care and adjusts the plan as needed; Anticipates and recognizes rapidly changing situations; and a patient's transition from stable to unstable, establishes priorities; and takes immediate appropriate action to collaborate and consult with the Registered Nurse; Provides health education using effective teaching strategies that takes into account the patient/family's learning needs, readiness, and motivation to learn; Collaborates with appropriate team members on patient care needs; Processes orders and seeks verification of orders from prescribers; Contributes to discharge and transition planning and other planning activities to facilitate care continuity and coordination; advocates for care needs to be met in most appropriate setting; Participates in daily/weekly/monthly equipment and supply checks; Cleans and stocks examination rooms with required supplies.

Collaboration & Coordination

Organizes patient care activities while working collaboratively with patients, families and the inter-professional team to achieve agreed-upon outcomes and optimize resource utilization for individual patients. Establishes and maintains respectful, collaborative, therapeutic and inter-professional relationships within and across the program/ hospital units (and externally where appropriate for his/her patient population). Coordinates and communicates patient care activities for a safe and seamless transfer of accountability from one care provider to another. Participates in program/organizational committees and other groups to represent the RPN perspective and serve as a bridge to the clinic/program and patient needs.

Leadership & Professional Development

Is accountable for his/her actions and decisions and practices in accordance with professional, legal and accreditation standards and evidence-based practice. Aligns behavior with Unity Health Toronto's vision, mission and values and code of conduct; promotes nursing as a knowledge-based profession; and, supports the advanced of professional practice plans and initiatives. Engages in self-reflection, performance review and ongoing learning. Participates in mentoring, teaching and /or coaching students, co-workers and other regulated and unregulated health professionals. Embraces change that leads to improved nursing practice and better patient outcomes. Advocates for a safe and healthy work environment.

Research

Participates in or supports research projects Supports and participates in evidence based practice implementation and quality improvement initiatives






Qualifications:


Education

Successful completion of a Practical Nursing Diploma Program. Current BLS/CPR Certificate required. Breastfeeding Course Preferred or completed within 6 months of hire.

Professional Registration

Currently registered as a Registered Practical Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Required Experience

Recent experience related to paediatric family-centred care Recent experience in applying adult learning principles and the ability to interact and teach parents re: infant feeding, well- baby/child care, developmental development and milestones and advise caregivers using current evidence based practices

Required Skills/Competencies

Excellent physical assessment skills, critical thinking skills and problem solving skills. Demonstrated understanding and champion of patient and family centred maternity care. Demonstrated ability to organize patient care demands and to set priorities in a rapidly changing environment. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal. Demonstrated ability to engage and educate patient and family. Demonstrated commitment to continuing education and professional development. Excellent computer skills. Demonstrated ability to work effectively within an interprofessional team as well as independently. Knowledge of common childhood illnesses and immunization schedules 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.