Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse (RPN/RN) - Access and Assessment Centre

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Registered Psychiatric Nurse OR Registered Nurse to join the Access and Assessment Centre team at Joseph & Rosalie Segal & Family Health Centre. Apply today to join our team!

As a Mental Health and Substance Use Nurse, you will:

• Provide individualized direct nursing care and brokerage services to a wide range of clients with severe and persistent mental illness, concurrent disorders and/or dementia.
• Be responsible for the full range of clinical practice and the client-centred rehabilitation program by working independently and as a member of a team.
• Enhance quality of life from the perspective of the client/family.
• Perform physical and psychosocial rehabilitation assessments.
• Consult, confer and collaborate with other health care givers and family members to develop, implement, evaluate and modify individualized strength-based treatment plans.
• Establish, maintain and enhance therapeutic relationships based on respect.
• Administer prescribed medicines, monitor client response and provide/demonstrate ongoing information to the client/family on activities of daily living, use of medication and side-effects and integration of illness to their lifestyle.
• Prepare and maintain client records according to established standards, participates in team meeting, engages in team planning and quality improvement activities and maintains and updates own knowledge.
  
  

ABOUT THE ACCESS & ASSESSMENT CENTRE (AAC)

The AAC serves as a single point of access for mental health services for residents of Vancouver ages 17+. Services include urgent assessments, crisis intervention, outreach support and referral to Mental Health and Substance Use services. Open 7 days a week, 7:30 am to 11:00 pm, the AAC provides easily accessible care that eliminates the need for clients to navigate a complicated system or default to Hospital Emergency Departments for their mental health and substance use needs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or a Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Completion of a minimum 6 week or 240 hours of clinical practicum/preceptorship in a mental health setting supplemented by completion of coursework in mental health or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of concurrent disorders, substance use and abuse, harm reduction strategies including assessment and intervention.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of conceptual models of psychiatric care including: person and family centered care, trauma-informed care, recovery model in mental illness and psychosocial rehabilitation methodology.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Mental Health Act as it applies to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community, social and mental health resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of impact of social, cultural and family systems on health outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to provide nursing assessments and interventions such as facilitating group process, conflict resolution, crisis interventions, individual and group counselling.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and implement care plans and anticipate and respond to potential complications and care issues relevant to the designated client group.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in the development and delivery of educational programs and materials for clients and families based on education theories, principles and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to identify emotional, social, or environmental barriers and intervene to eliminate stigma.
• Demonstrated ability to document client care on appropriate systems/forms in accordance with organizational and unit standards in a timely and accurate manner.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage conflict situations and aggressive behaviour and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to model and mentor new staff and students.
• Demonstrated skill in performing autonomous scope of practice and standards of care relevant to designated client population.
• Demonstrated skill in clinical techniques and the use of applicable equipment and supplies.