Nurse Practitioner

Job Summary & Requirements
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse (RN) in the Extended Class (EC) with additional educational preparation and experience, who possesses and demonstrates the competencies to autonomously diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe pharmaceuticals and perform specific procedures within their legislated scope of practice. The General Oncology NP will provide support to the outpatient oncology clinics at HRCC, the Toxicity Assessment Clinic (TAC) and Survivorship Clinic. TAC provides toxicity management for patients who are currently on or who have recently received cancer treatment and assists patients and families with symptom self-management, urgent care needs and system navigation.

Reporting to the Hudson Regional Cancer Centre (HRCC) Operations Director, the NP works within the framework of advanced nursing practice and in collaboration with other members of the interprofessional team to provide and enhance holistic care for a specific patient population. The full NP scope of advanced nursing practice, including clinical, administrative, education and research competencies, will be utilized to meet patient and family-centered healthcare needs across the continuum of care in a variety of settings. Promotion of leadership and excellence in nursing practice is a key component of the NP role.

Within this role, the NP is accountable for contributing to the delivery of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre corporate strategy and must demonstrate an awareness of and be responsible for actively promoting and supporting patient-and-family-centered care and engagement. As a member of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre's Regional Cancer Program team, the NP will utilize clinical expertise and an in-depth knowledge of oncology patients to plan patient care and evaluate clinical practice across the continuum of care. The NP will provide expert clinical practice, education, consultation, participate in the development of policy and procedures and research within a patient centered nursing approach. The NP role will provide advanced nursing care and perform medical acts to support a population of patients with oncology disease and treatment related issues throughout HRCC in the outpatient clinics, systemic therapy suite, TAC and Survivorship clinics. The NP is responsible for the provision of high-quality patient care, coordination of care, support of oncology outpatient clinics and procedures, promotion of self-management and smooth transitions in care within the organization and community.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Clinical Domain:
The NP will provide direct, comprehensive clinical care for oncology patients with treatment toxicities and complications arising in the in the ambulatory care setting in collaboration with the interprofessional team. The NP will support outpatient oncology clinic visits and procedure (bone marrow biopsies, lumbar punctures) clinics.

Research Domain
: The NP will ensure that patient care and nursing practice innovations within the program are supported by research. The NP will participate in, evaluate and utilize research which improves patient outcomes, contributes to the expansion of nursing knowledge and advances the profession of nursing.

Education:
Acts as a resource, coach and mentor to the interprofessional team, particularly related to area of expertise and complex patient/client and family situations. The NP acts as a resource and preceptor to students, identifies learning needs and uses adult education concepts in planning, designing and implementing educational strategies.

Leadership:
NPs improve clinical practice through the development, implementation and evaluation of practice guidelines, standards, policies and procedures that promote excellence in nursing practice. The NP participates in clinical and organizational committees. The NP will provide leadership by supporting and fostering evidence-based practice and continuous quality improvement processes within the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:

• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario as Registered Nurse in the Extended Class with one of the following specialty classes: Adult or Primary Health Care.
• Master of Science (Nursing)
• Membership in the RNAO.
• Membership in the NPAO.
• Each NP maintains and continually improves his/her competence by participating in the College of Nurses of Ontario's Quality Assurance requirements.
• Certification with a provincially recognized chemotherapy/biotherapy course strongly recommended.
• CNA Specialty in Oncology (CONC) required or in progress within 2 years of hire.
• Current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support required.
• Current certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support preferred.
• Successful completion of College of Nurses approved education to prescribe controlled substances required.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of nursing experience in oncology required

Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience working in an advanced practice role (Clinical Nurse Specialist or NP), preferably as an NP in a hospital inpatient or outpatient program.
• Demonstrated ability to educate staff, patients and families using knowledge and experience in change theory and adult learning principles.
• Demonstrated leadership skills within the interprofessional care team.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation and documentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively with all team members
• Evidence of strong mentoring, teaching, team building, change leadership, organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to work well in stressful situations
• Demonstrated ability to effectively deal with conflict situations and proactively and effectively resolve issues impacting on quality and continuity of care
• Exceptional time management, organizational and prioritization skills
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and make evidence-based decisions
• Demonstrated critical thinking and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated ability to interpret/participate in research
• Demonstrated knowledge of computer database, data analysis and presentation packages required
• Demonstrated commitment to improving patient flow throughout the facility and shared care partner centres.
• Demonstrates knowledge of applicable legislative, RVH/departmental patient and staff policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates RVH values.
• Satisfactory criminal reference check required.