Job Description

Reporting to the Manager, Nursing Innovation & Development, the primary responsibility of the role of the Workforce Program Lead & Nurse Career Coach is to provide leadership and support in the ongoing development, implementation, and sustainability of the clinical extern program consistent with Unity Health's Corporate Strategic Plan and Professional Practice Strategic Plan. The role is responsible for creating innovative and positive Clinical Extern experiences, in an effort to convert Clinical Externs into regulated healthcare roles as soon as they are eligible. The role will also act as a career coach and resource to clinical externs, nurses and nursing learners at all stages of their career journey to help to cultivate more robust nursing pipelines and retention strategies and foster professional growth and development of nurses within Unity Health Toronto.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will achieve the desired results through activities in the following main areas:


Lead the ongoing development of the Clinical Extern program and related resources, such as scope(s) of practice for both nursing and OT/PT roles within the program. Design & implement Clinical Extern orientation and related education to ensure it meets the evolving needs of the program and maintains consistency across our sites Provide support and mentorship to Clinical Externs in nursing and OT/PT roles across our sites and programs Innovate and evaluate strategies that support the uptake and integration of Clinical Externs across units, sites and programs and support general expansion of the program Develop and foster innovative clinical extern experiences to enhance the relationship and build awareness of the diverse professional opportunities at Unity Health Toronto Develop, implement and evaluate outcomes metrics for the Clinical Extern program in response to Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOH-LTC) and other funding opportunities and workforce priorities Partner with, and serve as a connection between, the Nursing Practice, Education and Leadership & Organizational Development and other organizational teams & resources to optimize professional development opportunities and planning for target groups, including nursing students, Clinical Externs, and nurses at any stage of their career journey. Collaborate with the Manager, Nursing Innovation & Development and others in annual review of Clinical Extern program outcomes data in order to track extern to staff conversion rates, support Ministry of Health reporting, and inform program development opportunities Mentor Clinical Externs to become familiar with their roles and responsibilities in their area of clinical practice and the broader healthcare sector. Advocate, support and contribute to corporate knowledge translation strategies to profile local Clinical Extern program or unit implementation, evaluation and sustainability activities (e.g. Newsletter, Twice a Week or Communications features, etc.) Consult with hiring managers/units where Clinical Extern performance or attendance is an issue and design tools and resources to support hiring managers in addressing the issue (e.g. performance appraisal tools, learning plan templates or scripts). Co-design recruitment and retention strategies and opportunities for Clinical Externs with HR and other relevant partners. Advise and provide information Clinical Externs and nurses on relevant professional development & career opportunities & pathways and promote awareness of resources to support (e.g. CEPD funding) Identify and advocate to relevant stakeholders (HR, Clinical Managers, and Directors) for creative opportunities to improve nurse retention, with a focus on retaining early career nurses through career coaching and talent management. Monitor and improve extern-to-staff conversion and retention rates, working in close partnership with Talent Acquisition, relevant HR Operations Lead and Clinical Managers to promote nursing opportunities for new graduate nurses at Unity Health Toronto. Coordinating with various departments (Education, Human Resources, Leadership & Organizational Development, and Wellness) and educational institutions to create and facilitate access to training programs, workshops, certifications, and other resources that can enhance nurses' skills and qualifications. Attend relevant team meetings of Human Resources, Nursing Practice, Education and Leadership and Organizational Development to promote and enhance awareness & utilization of ministry funded pipeline programs (NGG, SPEP, Temporary Licensure, and Clinical Extern). Plan, develop and implement Clinical Extern orientation in conjunction with Nursing Education that meets evolving needs and is relevant and consistent across sites to the greatest extent possible. Lead the preparation and distribution of education and learning materials that supports Clinical Extern development. Support and expand Clinical Extern shadow opportunities with a focus on recruitment and conversion to staff nursing roles. Promotes Clinical Extern responsibility/accountability for their own learning and professional goals & development through coaching, mentoring and creating opportunities for clinical extern learning (e.g. skills workshops, simulations or professional development sessions) Evaluates the effectiveness of professional development activities inviting feedback from learners, unit Clinical Educators, Managers of Collaborative Practice, Professional Practice leaders, Program Directors and Clinical Managers and uses this information to plan and implement improvements to professional development opportunities for Clinical Externs at Unity Health Toronto Facilitates the creation of a learner-centered environment on the unit or in the program - supporting, role modelling, coaching and mentoring clinical externs, and supervising staff. Collaborates with Professional Practice in the development and delivery of corporate Clinical Extern education (e.g., orientation, clinical best practices, workshops, etc.) Serve as a career coach for nursing students, Clinical Externs, IENs and newly-registered nurses by providing information and guidance on specialty areas and programs of interest, and connecting them with resources to meet professional development goals while considering high vacancy areas at UHT Advise and coach current and prospective nurses (RNs and RPNs) about sponsorship and other career development streams within Unity Health (i.e. critical care, OR, etc.) Advise and coach current staff on various initiatives, nursing awards and funding opportunities to achieve professional goals. Developing and implementing mentorship opportunities where experienced nurses can mentor newer colleagues, providing guidance, support, and encouragement. Assisting clinical externs and early career nurses in preparing for promotions by offering guidance on the application process, interview preparation, and showcasing their skills and achievements. Engage in scholarly activities to support knowledge translation and dissemination Represents the organization and participates in the healthcare community through research, evaluation, conference abstract submissions and presentations; and external meetings. Participates in research projects that contribute to Professional Practice & Education pertaining to workforce programs and the Corporation Support and participates in the implementation of evidence based practice (best practice guidelines and other forms of evidence) and quality improvement initiatives on unit/in workforce programs including Corporate initiatives. Identification of opportunities to improve processes for clinical extern recruitment and retention plans/activities. Partner with units and programs who express interest in hiring Clinical Externs to ensure infrastructure support, and understanding of scope and supervision requirements are clear and consistent for successful integration and optimization of the role. Partner with OT/PT leadership to develop and expand the OT/PT Clinical Extern program and interprofessional opportunities. Act as a liaison with educational partners to enhance visibility of Clinical Extern opportunities and partnerships at Unity Health Toronto. Act as a leader, role model, liaison and resource for Clinical Managers, Clinical Educators - Nursing, Managers of Collaborative Practice and other nursing and health disciplines roles in the implementation the Clinical Extern program. Partner with the Nursing Practice leaders, Education & Leadership and Organizational Development teams to foster connections, networking opportunities and outreach for Clinical Externs to support their transition to nursing practice.

Qualifications

Undergraduate Degree in Nursing required Completion of a Master's Degree in Nursing, Health Administration, Health Leadership or Education required Currently registered by and in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) required Current BLS certification required Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in nursing or nursing education in a complex acute care setting required Canadian Nurses Association and/or Registered Nurses Association of Ontario preferred Previous educational experience essential Previous experience with Clinical Extern programs strongly preferred Strong teaching and adult learning skills required; Demonstrated evidence of strong knowledge on regulatory standards, organizational policies/guidelines and evidence Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with nurses and interprofessional teams to improve nurse satisfaction and retention Strong organizational and communication skills (writing, active listening, conflict resolution, ability to inspire others, delegation, mentoring, coaching, goal setting etc.) Excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Unity Health Toronto

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.