Registered Nurse – Withdrawal Management and Safe Beds

Purpose

The Sault Area Hospital is currently recruiting a registered nurse to join our Withdrawal Management (WMS) and Safe Bed (SB) Services. The Sault Area Hospital WMS and SB program is currently a 16 bed unit dedicated to meeting the needs of patients who present for assistance in managing substance use and addictions, and/or a mental disorder who are in crisis with police involvement. Patients may have co-occurring mental health and/or medical issues. This is a new regulated health care provider role for the service, and will function within a team comprised of addiction service workers. As such, we are seeking a registered nurse with interest and competency in the development of this new nursing role and responsibilities in our service.

Duties

Working in collaboration with the Emergency Department, Addiction Medicine Consult Team, Rapid Access Addictions Medicine, Addictions Treatment Clinic, the Addiction Service Workers and community partners, the Registered Nurse will:

• Conduct rapid physical/medical assessments, mental health, addictions and risk assessment and stabilization of patients presenting directly to WMS and/or SB or being transferred from the Emergency Department
• Provide the full scope of nursing care to patients through all stages of withdrawal and treatment, which will include, but not be limited to:
• Medication administration and reconciliation
• Monitor and assess patient withdrawal, medical and mental health status
• Provide nursing support to clients in WMS and/or SB, including acute or urgent presentations, chronic illness support, basic wound care, and comfort measures
• Offer counseling regarding client substance use, withdrawal and wellness using motivational interviewing and other evidence-based best practices
• Consult with staff with respect to clients with complicated medical, mental health or withdrawal histories
• Refer to and work with care partners to meet client health care needs; may involve use of telemedicine resources
• Support discharge planning through relevant health care referrals and connections to primary care
• Contribute to client programming, including health teaching about issues including substance use, addiction, withdrawal, medications, nutrition, and other general health topics
• Provide quality improvement and safety improvement strategies
• Contribute to performance huddles, rounds, transfer of accountability and team meetings, as well as routine tasks to maintain cleanliness of the unit and meal support to ensure client and staff safety and care continuity
• Work with care providers system-wide on initiatives intended to identify and implement best practices
• Contribute to the development of a “community of practice” nursing model
  

Qualifications

• Current registration in good standing with the College of Nurses Ontario
• Non-violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention
  
  

Experience

• Nursing experience working with those impacted by addictions and mental health in either an inpatient unit or community setting.
• Experience and competence with medical nursing, physical health assessment and management of acute intoxication and withdrawal
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to patient and family-centered care
• Demonstrated adaptability to change and ongoing improvement in support of patient care and safety
• Awareness of and understanding of social determinants of health and health promotion
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and application of recovery, harm reduction, addiction treatment, pharmacotherapy, motivational interviewing and trauma informed approaches
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of legislation which guides mental health and addiction nursing practice (example, Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act
  
  

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively within an inter-professional team environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Well-developed leadership, critical thinking, organizational and problem solving skills
• Proficiency in the application of de-escalation and de-briefing skills
• Demonstrated recovery-focused skills in bio-psychosocial assessment, mental status assessments, differential diagnosis, treatment and transitional care of mental health and addictions patients
  
  

Ability

• Demonstrated ability to work in a self-directed manner
• Demonstrated ability to engage patients and their families with diverse communities with respect, sensitivity, creativity, innovation, cultural understanding
• Knowledgeable in the utilization and care of all mechanical equipment required for patient care
• Demonstrated ability to maintain successful working relationships; ability to meet and interact with people in a pleasant, professional, responsible and reassuring manner, both in person and on the telephone; tact, courtesy and alertness in public contacts
• Demonstrated behaviour consistent with the Hospital’s mission, vision, and iCcare Way values
  
  

Note: Because of the changing nature of the work and work to be done, other responsibilities and duties may by assigned and qualifications may be adjusted from time to time. Only those selected for the test/ interview will be contacted.

Nurses will be selected on the basis of their skill, ability, experience and qualifications as identified in the resume which they have attached to the posting application form. The Hospital reserves the right to conduct a formal interview and/or testing where required.