Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner  

Location: Abbotsford Hospice

Reporting to: Director, Clinical Program

Job status: Flexible options for casual up to full-time 1.0 FTE (temporary contract with potential for renewal)

Start Date: August 2023

End Date: December 2023

 

ABOUT US

Canuck Place Children’s Hospice (CPCH) is British Columbia’s recognized pediatric palliative care provider. For over two decades, through the many programs and services we provide, we have made a significant difference in the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. Be part of a talented and innovative team that takes pride in supporting and providing the highest quality pediatric palliative care.

It is the expectation for all roles across the organization to know the organization’s philosophy of pediatric palliative care and uphold a commitment to further ones knowledge. Our philosophy of pediatric palliative care is as follows: Pediatric palliative care improves quality of life, promotes comfort, and reduces suffering for children with life-threatening conditions (serious illness) and their families through a holistic approach addressing; physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. It is collaborative person & family-centered care delivered using a team-based approach throughout the continuum of care across all ages and stages of illness, including bereavement. It values choice and honest and compassionate communication.

At Canuck Place we understand that uniqueness is powerful. We hold each other accountable for an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their experiences and ideas and know that they belong. We believe diversity drives innovation and the best pediatric palliative care for children and their families therefore we welcome that every person brings an individual perspective and experience to advance our mission. We have more work to do to advance diversity and inclusion and we are building a culture where difference is valued. We have a commitment to inclusion across gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity and disability status, to ensure our team members are empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. All staff are encouraged to contribute their perspective and lived experience through our internal employee groups such as Care 4 the Caregiver, Culture, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging), Green Team, Truth and Reconciliation and Wellness Committees.

 

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO WORK HERE?

Canuck Place careers are full of connection, community, and care. We aim to nurture a supportive culture rooted in compassion, collaboration and support while providing expert care to children and families. Our team includes individuals with a special blend of sensitivity, compassion, and appreciation for life. Canuck Place is where no moment is missed. A place where you can make a difference.

We offer competitive compensation and a benefits package focusing on wellness and self-care that includes:

• 20 days’ vacation (pro-rated to your full-time equivalency)to start with ongoing annual anniversary increases up to an organizational maximum of 45 days
• Up to two paid mandatory wellness days a year
• Generous paid leave including compassionate and special leave when you need it
• Municipal Pension Plan (MPP)
• 100% employer paid benefits package from your first day which includes extended health and dental and $1,500 annually for counselling
• Health and Wellness Spending account that provides up to $1,000 annually to ensure you can focus on the benefits that are important to you and your family
• Flexible working options
• Free meals on-site at the hospices
• Continuous paid training and development opportunities so everyone has the opportunity to learn new skills and grow
• Ongoing parental support including top up for maternity and parental leave and paid leave for new grandparents

 

JOB SUMMARY

The Nurse Practitioner provides pediatric palliative care for children with serious illnesses and complex conditions and their families across the health care continuum. The Nurse Practitioner within Canuck Place Children’s Hospice is an independent practitioner who contributes to collaborative inter-professional pediatric care to children and families through advance clinical practice, leadership, consultations, referrals, education and research. The Nurse Practitioner is accountable for the comprehensive assessment of patients including diagnosing diseases, disorders and conditions; initiating treatment including health care management, therapeutic interventions and prescribing medications in accordance with the statutory and regulatory standards, limits and conditions, and CPCH policies and procedures. Nurse Practitioners provide professional guidance to other health professionals. The Nurse Practitioner provides inpatient care and community-based services, reporting to the Clinical Program Director.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Diagnoses and treats illnesses and conditions within the Nurse Practitioner’s scope of practice, orders appropriate screening and diagnostic investigations, interprets reports of investigations and analyses information to monitor progress and plan treatment.
• Prescribes treatment and medications within the statutory and regulatory standards, limits and conditions for Nurse Practitioners and within applicable employer policies and procedures
• Provides direct care and monitors ongoing care in the hospice and in families’ homes.
• As part of the interdisciplinary team, participates in patient rounds and collaborates with team members to develop and implement care plans.
• Establishes priorities for management of health conditions; provides expertise in pain and symptom management, and ongoing care needs of children and families; supports discussions about serious illness and engages in advance care planning; coordinates care as appropriate
• Promotes ethical decision-making and child/family advocacy.
• Acts as an advocate, clinical resource, consultant, and role model for the provision of content, holistic and ethical pediatric palliative care for Canuck place children and families.
• Provides consultation and education to inter-professional health care providers, community groups, and health care institutions regarding pediatric palliative care.
• Collaborates and coordinates to facilitate complex care at transition points, including admissions/transfers between hospice, hospital and home. Collaborates with other community partners as needed to provide continuity of care based on the family’s goals of care in conjunction with best practices of pediatric palliative care.
• Maintains documentation of patient assessment, treatment and discussions and communicates information to team members and providers.
• Provides input into the development, implementation and evaluation both of organizational and departmental philosophy, objectives, policies and procedures to ensure appropriate levels of care and cost effective use of resources.
• Promotes excellence in clinical practice and patient safety through application of clinical expertise and principles of continuous quality improvement. Evaluates and analyses appropriateness of research for use in the clinical setting and participates and promotes dissemination of research finds and knowledge translation.
• Understands and is able to apply the concepts of outcomes research; identifies research needs within the program or larger pediatric palliative care specialty. Collaborates with physicians, advanced practices nurses, and research team to develop research activities and lead or participate in research projects as appropriate
• Assumes other related responsibilities, as assigned.  

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Successful completion of an approved Nurse Practitioner program with a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN). Current or qualifies for registration as a Nurse Practitioner with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and have completed or be eligible to complete the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Minimum 5 years’ experience in pediatric care and/or palliative care.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

What you bring to the role:

• Models CPCH’s quality of care standards and professional advanced nursing practice
• Demonstrated specialized pediatric and palliative care clinical knowledge. Expertise in pain and symptom management, serious illness conversations with families.
• Knowledge of health care system and ability to collaborate across sectors and settings to support continuity of care
• Excellent leadership, coaching, mentoring and team building skills.
• Strategic thinker with sound decision making, problem solving and evaluative skills.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, build effective relationships and resolve conflict situations with individuals at all levels.
• Effective change agent skills with ability to implement and evaluate planned change.
• Proven ability to develop and sustain partnerships and work diplomatically and persuasively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to provide progressive and innovative approaches and solutions to gaps and challenges.
• Able to critically assess and evaluate health research literature to determine best practices; ability to introduce education and evidence based research into practice areas
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, set and successfully accomplish objectives
• Able to define and articulate the specific areas of practice and client population for whom the NP is competent to provide health care services.
• Strong computer skills including MS Office suite programs.
• Self identifies learning needs and is a continuous, lifelong learner.
• Experience and comfort working independently and as part of a larger team as well as in a hospice, hospital and home environments.
• Physical ability to do the duties of the position and ability to operate related equipment

 

You have:

• High integrity; creativity; balance, good judgment and objectivity; high vision and conceptual capabilities; consultative, facilitate and collaborative; sense of humor.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility that allows you to work with high energy, creative people.
• Able to thrive and effectively manage priorities in a changing, ambiguous environment.

 

Please note:

• Evidence of Health Canada approved vaccinations must be provided prior to your first day of work.
• Flexibility is necessary, as this position may require occasional weekend and evening work and travel within and outside the Lower Mainland.

 

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

We understand that the recruitment process is not a one size fits all, our inclusion values and flexibility extend to your hiring experience.  Canuck Place is committed to providing inclusive access and accommodations throughout the application and selection process. We are continuously working to improve our systems, policies, and practices to ensure our employees, in all their diversity, can succeed. Should you require accessibility accommodation through the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
 

Canuck Place Children’s Hospice hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equality and diversity within its community and to a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We especially welcome applications from Indigenous persons, visible minority group members, persons with disabilities, people of all sexual orientations, genders and gender identities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit your cover letter and your resume at https://www.canuckplace.org/about-us/careers/. This posting will remain open until filled. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates who have been short-listed will be contacted.