Nurse Pratitioner - Mental Health & Addictions

Req ID: 24822
Location: Eastern Zone, 121 Union Street, Glace Bay & New Waterford Consolidated Hospital
Company: NSHA
Department: Mental Health & Addictions
Type of Employment: Regular Hourly FT  (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Union Status: Nursing NSNU Nursing
Posting Closing Date: 26-Oct-18

Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM on the Closing Date. Only online applications will be accepted, interested candidates please apply here:

https://career17.sapsf.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=24822&company=NSHAP&username=

Nova Scotia Health Authority is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia. We are over 22,000 employees who provide health care and support services in hospitals, health centres and community-based programs throughout Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Health Authority provides health services to Nova Scotians and some specialized services to Maritimers and Atlantic Canadians. We operate hospitals, health centres and community-based programs across the province. Our team of health professionals includes employees, doctors, researchers, learners and volunteers that provide the health care or services you may need. This is accomplished across four geographic management zones which are responsible for the operation of acute care health centres and the provision of a variety of inpatient, outpatient services including academic, tertiary, quaternary care and community based programs and services including continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions.

Responsibilities

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) through a population health lens works as an independent practitioner within collaborative practice relationships with Mental Health and Addictions (MHA)  and Primary Care teams for the purpose of achieving integrated and coordinated mental health and addictions treatment for clients and families in the Eastern Zone. The NP will utilize critical thinking and problem solving skills in the ability to integrate and evaluate pertinent data (from multiple sources) effectively utilizing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM -5) to screen and assess for mental health and addictions/concurrent disorders and conduct crisis and suicide risk assessments consistent with service standards and in direct consultation with the psychiatry and clinical teams. The NP position will improve access to agonist treatment for Nova Scotian’s through the provision of comprehensive, specialized and advanced assessment, diagnosis and prescribing of agonist medication for people with opioid use disorder and to facilitate the provision of mental health and addictions care  from inpatient to community settings. The NP facilitates the transfer of care of individuals who have stabilized within MHA opioid treatment clinics to primary care physicians for ongoing agonist maintenance and support and provides clinical consultation and medical backup as required to inpatient mental health and addictions medical officer physicians.  The NP will promote positive mental health for individuals and communities at the individual, community and system level.

Relocation incentives may be offered to the successful candidate based on qualifying criteria.

Qualifications

• Completion of a Masters of Nursing – Advanced Nursing Practice stream or equivalent nurse practitioner program.
• Current registration (or eligibility) as a Nurse Practitioner – Family/All Ages, and in good standing with the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia (CRNNS),
• Successful Completion of controlled drugs and substances (CDS) education program and registration with the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program (NSPMP).
• Completion of Opioid Dependency Treatment Core Course via Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Minimum of two years recent (within last 5 years) NP experience in a Mental Health and Addictions setting preferred
  • If there are no applicants with 2 years of NP experience in Mental Health & Addictions, applicants with less than 2 years’ experience will be assessed and considered
  • If there are no applicants with nurse practitioner experience, applicants with no NP experience will be assessed and considered
• Experience, knowledge and respect in the application of harm reduction and determinants of health theory and practice approaches to client care and engagement in promoting health & supporting recovery
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving skills and the ability to integrate and evaluate pertinent data (from multiple sources) effectively utilizing DSM 5 to screen and assess for mental health and addictions/concurrent disorders and conduct crisis and suicide risk assessments consistent with service standards
• Prescribe controlled drugs including but not limited to agonist medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder according to Nurse Practitioners’ Authorized Practices: Nova Scotia Schedule of Prescribing Pharmaceuticals and relevant legislation, standards and policies.
• Identifies points in the patient’s care journey where continuity of care could be at risk and consults with the most appropriate healthcare professional(s) for consultation or referral when a patient’s care requirements exceed the NPs competence or scope of practice.
• Excellent interpersonal and written, electronic (Microsoft Office Programs, including Outlook) and verbal communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, public, community partners, primary care team members and other professionals and agencies
• Ability to promote positive workplace culture, staff morale, cooperation, assertiveness, creative planning for change, innovations and implementation of NSHA policies and protocols
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, strong ethical standards, a commitment to professional development and life-long learning and the ability to promote client-focused care that demonstrates care for and with clients and significant others, sensitive to diverse cultures and preferences, client advocacy and social justice
• Current certification in CPR and CPI
• This job posting is not all-inclusive. It describes the general nature and level of  demonstrated ability in the provision of  NP care within mental health and addictions
• Travel between clinics throughout the Eastern Zone
• Shifts may include evenings, weekends, holidays and an on-call component  
• Competencies in other languages an asset, French preferred
• Successful external applicants are required to provide a criminal record check (including Vulnerable Sector Search) to People Services before starting employment and assume any associated costs as a condition of employment

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must clearly state such equivalencies in their cover letter, resume, or application.  Additionally, candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.