Nurse Practitioner

Become part of the ADAPT team; the team that makes a difference, supports its employees in their career development and creates a positive environment to work in

POSITION: Nurse Practitioner

LOCATION: Halton Region

This position will be classified as a 1.0FTE, 37.5 hrs/ week. This is a maternity leave coverage.

WHAT'S THERE FOR YOU?

You will work with a fun, cooperative and diverse team. This group will provide you many opportunities to learn from other professions and enhance your skills and abilities when providing services to your clients. It's an interesting role, with excellent work-life balance.

SUMMARY

Under the Standards of Practice of the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides direct and indirect comprehensive patient care services to populations with addictions or concurrent disorders using advanced assessment skills and a sound knowledge of clinical therapeutics. The services to support patient care are provided independently as well as in collaboration with various inter-professional teams across the organization and with community partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General Nurse Practitioner Duties and Responsibilities:

• Delivers primary care services within the Nurse Practitioner (NP) scope of practice as outlined by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and Bill 179, including comprehensive health assessments, physical examination, therapeutic management, consultation, collaboration and referrals for those who use substances or/ and with mental health concerns;
• Provides and evaluates holistic patient care based on advance nursing and medical management knowledge and skills;
• Provides non-urgent, health care services within the NP’s full scope of practice to clients who encounter barriers to accessing primary health care;

Withdrawal management Duties and Responsibilities:

• Enhances community based harm reduction supports for clients in the community experiencing serious substance use issues that lead to significant withdrawal symptoms;
• Provides clinical assistance through nursing supports (nurse practitioner) across a range of supportive housing residential settings in order to improve the medical management of clients who are withdrawing from substances and need access to primary care and/or medications to manage the symptoms of withdrawal;
• Provides care to persons experiencing substance use concerns with or without a mental health condition that is recovery oriented, trauma-informed, uses principles of harm reduction, and addresses social determinants of health;
• Prescribes and dispenses controlled substance while considering the unique risks associate with medication misuse, addiction and diversion, implementing strategies to mitigate risks, and provide clients with education and strategies for minimizing risk;
• Support Clients with medical cannabis considerations, in compliance with the requirements under Cannabis Regulations

EDUCATION

• Master's Degree in Primary Health Nurse Care Practitioner program;
• Successful completion of the Prescribing Narcotics and Controlled Substances course required;
• Completion of a Suboxone on-line education program as asset;

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario as a Registered Nurse in the Extended Class;
• Membership in specialty related organizations e.g. NPAO, RNAO an asset;
• Non-violent crisis intervention, First Aid, CPR and ASIST certifications are assets;
• Current vulnerable sector check;
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle;

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of three years of community health care and/or primary care experience required;
• Experience in addiction medicine and harm reduction;

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

General Nurse Practitioner competencies:

• Thorough current nursing knowledge and proficiency in conducting a comprehensive health history, physical assessment and construction of a nursing management plan;
• Demonstrated respect for diversity, equity and accessibility with the ability to work collaboratively and positively with others;
• Demonstrated ability, commitment to and knowledge of community addictions and mental health care;
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of harm reduction principles and practices, substance use and overdose response;
• Knowledge of evidence-informed guidelines, legislation, regulation and organizational policies when prescribing controlled drugs/ substances (CDS);
• Understanding of best practices related to the use of CDS and of other pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic options;

Withdrawal management specific Nurse Practitioner competencies:

• Demonstrated understanding of the neurobiology of addiction;
• Advanced practice assessments and interventions for a diverse range of clients with addiction problems;
• Advanced health assessment skills to identify clients’ emotional, cognitive and behavioural states, as well as level of anxiety, crisis states, indices of aggression, self-harm, suicide, risk to others, competency to care for self, and signs of substance abuse, addiction, and withdrawal;

WORK CONDITIONS

• May work from any one of ADAPT’s community service office across Halton Region;
• Community: public places, community partner sites and clients’ homes and/ or ADAPT busy office environment.
• Able to fulfill all duties and work hours from a remote/home location, whenever required.
• Able to work 37.5hrs/week; flexibility is requires when meeting clients’ needs in evenings and on occasional weekends.
• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals.
• Various physical actions of mobility are required (minimal lifting, sitting for periods of time, moderate wrist motions).

TRANSPORTATION

To successfully fulfill duties of the role, current valid driver's licence and regular access to a dependable vehicle is required.

ABOUT US

ADAPT (Halton Alcohol Drug and Gambling Assessment Prevention and Treatment Services) is one of the largest and most diversified treatment agencies in Ontario. We offer a full spectrum of services to clients experiencing concerns with addictions, mental health or concurrent disorders, as well as to their families and loved ones.

At ADAPT we are committed to building a warm, inclusive, and diverse environment. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset; that they will do their best work when they feel supported and empowered. That is why we offer an attractive compensation and benefits package.

You may be a great candidate even if you don’t have everything listed above. We believe in growth and curiosity. If you have some of these qualities and believe this is the position that will make you excited, then we want to hear from you!

At ADAPT, we strive to be an equitable and inclusive employer. Our commitment to equity is grounded in an institution-wide commitment to achieving a working, environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

ADAPT seeks candidates from First Nations, Métis and Inuit, racialized and LGBTQ2S+ communities, women, and people with disabilities (including people who have experienced mental health and substance use challenges).

We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

All new hires must be fully compliant with our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy as a condition of employment with ADAPT. Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a documented medical exemption as part of the hiring process.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code, ADAPT will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs to ensure your equal participation.

All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

We thank all those who apply but only those individuals selected for further consideration will be contacted.