Nurse Practitioner

Job Summary:

The VON Nurse Practitioner practices autonomously at the full scope, providing cost-effective care to individuals and/or families in the clinic, virtually, and/or home setting. The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for the provision and management of care within the framework of quality & risk management and the standards and scope of practice set by VON and the provincial regulatory body.

Key Responsibilities:

• Clinical Practice
  • Performs comprehensive health or symptom-directed assessments and synthesizes data from multiple sources to make a diagnosis of a disease or disorder within the NP scope of practice.
  • Encourages clients and their families to take responsibility for their own health by involving them in risk factor and health problem identification, goal setting, and the choices of interventions for disease treatment and prevention, and health promotion.
  • Spends adequate time with the client to determine the presence of existing and potential health problems, with a major focus on related lifestyle, psychological, sociocultural, and environmental risk factors which may influence the client's health status.
  • Determines client's existing and potential health problems, with a major focus on related lifestyle, psychological, sociocultural, and environmental risk factors which may influence the client's health status.
  • Determines the need, orders from (according to provincial regulations), and interprets the results of screening and diagnostic tests.
  • Keeps complete, accurate, legible, and timely records of client visits, using the SOAP format and standard for documentation as per Provincial College of Nurses.
  • Sees clients at the clinic with scheduled and urgent appointments, and in the Community through outreach and home visits, during regular and extended hours.
  • Demonstrated skill practicing at full scope including safe prescribing of controlled drugs & substances & safe, cost-effective ordering of advanced diagnostics.
• Therapeutics
  • Initiates and manages the care of clients with diseases or disorders with the NP scope of practice and/or monitors the ongoing therapy of clients by providing effective pharmacological, complementary, or counseling interventions.
  • Prescribes drugs to treat diseases or disorders within the NP scope of practice (according to provincial standards of practice).
• Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
  • Implements strategies to promote health and prevent disease with individuals, families, and communities.
  • Synthesizes information from individual clients to identify broader implications within the family.
  • Assesses and manages the care of families.
  • Utilizes adult learning principles and established teaching materials to provide health teaching to clients and families.
• Infection Prevention & Control
  • Utilizes established infection prevention & control techniques to limit the spread of infection in the clinic and home setting.
• Community Development & Planning
  • Synthesizes information from individual clients to identify broader implications for health with the community.
  • Uses community assessment data to identify community needs and resources and develops, implements, and evaluates appropriate programming.
• Resource Management
  • Provides cost-effective, organized, outcome-directed care on an ongoing basis.
  • Identifies and utilizes tools and resources for work and manages these resources through regular maintenance of equipment, etc.
  • Demonstrates effective time management, planning, and organizing of work activities.
  • Delegates care appropriately.
  • Refers clients to appropriate levels of providers, support providers, and to other disciplines utilizing established guidelines.
  • Promotes client-directed care, self-care, and independence through teaching.
  • Ensures efficient functioning of the office clerical support staff.
• Leadership
  • Provides leadership in the organization about the NP role.
  • Works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and acts as a clinical resource and mentor for other care providers, staff, and students.
  • Shares knowledge, enabling clients, family, caregivers, and community to make informed choices in determining health and service needs.
  • Promotes involvement of client/family/caregiver in determining health and service needs.
  • Influences policy review and development in health care and standards of nursing practice through involvement in VON, professional organizations, and/or community organizations.
  • Participates in the hiring and orientation and evaluation of clinic staff.
  • Supervises and precepts NP students and participates in the education of other students placed within the clinic and other care settings.
• Client Safety
  • Practices in accordance with the quality and risk management framework of VON Canada and Occupational Health and Safety legislation.
  • Articulates knowledge of components of quality and risk management.
  • Plans, implements, evaluates, and adjusts care in accordance with customer-focused expectations.
  • Seeks input from clients to assure that service meets expectations.
  • Functions as an effective team member.
  • Participates in decision-making and follows up to promote continuous quality improvement.
• Professional Accountability
  • Functions as a primary care provider to the clients by maintaining confidentiality and acting in an ethical and professional manner, in accordance with the professional code of ethics.
  • Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships.
  • Obtains appropriate physician consultation according to provincial regulatory standards of practice.
  • Functions in accordance with the VON policies, procedures, and strategic direction of VON Canada and the branch.
  • Functions in accordance with applicable legislation and governing body standards of practice.
  • Maintains competence through ongoing continuing education.
  • Collaborates with management staff and colleagues in performance development evaluations.
  • Functions as an employee of VON, to the organization, VON's mission, vision, philosophy, standards, and policies and procedures.
• External and Internal Relationships
  • Engage regularly with clients, their families, and if applicable caregivers.
  • Participate actively with other members of the health care team and the community to promote best practices.
• Education, Designations, and Experience
  • Bachelor degree in Nursing (BScN) or equivalent with a clinical focus. Masters degree preferred.
  • Completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program.
  • Must have a Certificate of Competence or be licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in the province of operation without restrictions.
  • Minimum of 3 years' experience as a Nurse Practitioner in primary health care an asset.
  • Experience working with seniors, low-income families, multicultural populations, and youth an asset.
• Skill Requirements
  • Thorough familiarity with therapeutic methods and practices based upon a health promotion/disease prevention model.
  • Independent assessment.
  • Health teaching facilitation and development.
  • Interpersonal relationship building and strong verbal/written communication.
  • Ability to problem solve and to adapt nursing to independent practice.
  • Ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team and independently.
  • Computer literacy including proficiency in Word, online searches, Zoom/teleconferences. Experience in Electronic Medical Records use preferred.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills.
  • Excellent decision-making, problem recognition, and problem-solving skills.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
  • Program planning and evaluation methodology skills.
  • Familiarity with safe practices surrounding virtual care.
• Other
  • A current and original copy of a satisfactory Criminal Records Check.
  • A Vulnerable Sector Search and/or a Child Abuse Registry Check may be required.
  • Available to work flexible hours.
  • Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).