Nurse Practitioner

Universal Health Hub is seeking a full-time Nurse Practitioner (NP) for a temporary assignment. This advanced practice role focuses on providing comprehensive, community-based care to older adults with complex medical, psychiatric, and cognitive needs.

The Nurse Practitioner applies advanced clinical expertise, independent judgment, and evidence-informed practice to deliver holistic, person-centred care that addresses the physical, mental, and social dimensions of health. The NP practices autonomously within their legislated scope and provides clinical leadership within an interprofessional team.

This role involves service delivery in community settings, including private homes and retirement environments, requiring adaptability, strong clinical reasoning, and responsiveness to changing care contexts.

Practice Context

The Nurse Practitioner provides care to adults aged 65 and older experiencing serious and persistent mental illness, including dementia-related behavioural and psychological symptoms. Care is delivered in collaboration with an interprofessional team that may include Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, consulting psychiatrists, and community partners.

In this role, the Nurse Practitioner functions as the Most Responsible Practitioner (MRP) for assigned clients and holds accountability for clinical decision-making, treatment planning, and ongoing management of care. The position reports to program leadership within geriatric and mental health services.

Core Responsibilities

• Serves as the Most Responsible Practitioner for clients receiving outpatient and community-based geriatric mental health services.
• Conducts comprehensive and ongoing psychiatric, medical, physical, and cognitive assessments.
• Provides diagnostic clarification and formulates clinical impressions in collaboration with the interprofessional team.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans aligned with patient goals and recovery principles.
• Prescribes, initiates, monitors, and adjusts medications in accordance with legislative authority.
• Evaluates medication effectiveness, side effects, interactions, and safety considerations.
• Recommends, implements, and evaluates non-pharmacological and behavioural interventions.
• Orders and interprets diagnostic tests to support clinical decision-making.
• Monitors chronic and stable conditions, modifying care plans as clinically indicated.

Risk Management and Clinical Response

• Identifies clinical and environmental risks and implements strategies to reduce harm.
• Recognizes early signs of clinical decompensation and initiates timely interventions.
• Responds effectively to rapidly evolving situations, including crisis intervention.
• Facilitates inpatient admissions for physical or mental health care when clinically indicated.

Collaboration and Care Coordination

• Works collaboratively with patients, families, caregivers, and support networks to promote continuity and quality of care.
• Coordinates care with internal teams and community agencies to support patients in remaining safely within the community.
• Facilitates access to services such as home care, adult day programs, addiction services, brain stimulation therapies, and other specialized supports.
• Collaborates with consulting psychiatrists for complex or high-acuity presentations.
• Provides consultation and clinical guidance to healthcare providers and community partners on complex care and ethical issues.

Education, Quality, and Professional Practice

• Provides education and counseling to patients, families, staff, and community providers regarding diagnoses, treatment options, outcomes, and follow-up plans.
• Utilizes standardized assessment and monitoring tools (e.g., cognitive and behavioural scales) to guide care.
• Promotes recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centred care principles.
• Contributes to quality improvement initiatives, practice evaluation, and service development.
• Supports learning and professional development within the interprofessional team.
• Participates in organizational committees, working groups, and community collaborations.
• Integrates current research and evidence-based practices into clinical care.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in accordance with professional standards and organizational policies.
• Identifies opportunities for system and practice improvement and supports change initiatives.
• Acts as an advocate for patient autonomy, dignity, and ethical practice.

Qualifications and Experience

• Registration as a Nurse Practitioner with no practice restrictions
• Current registration in good standing as a Registered Nurse – Extended Class (RNEC) with the provincial nursing regulatory body
• Master's degree in Nursing (preferred)
• Minimum 2 years of experience in geriatric, mental health, or related clinical settings
• 5 or more years of experience in a Nurse Practitioner role (preferred)
• Demonstrated expertise in geriatric psychiatry, dementia care, and complex mental health conditions
• Knowledge of dementia care frameworks and standards (e.g., GPA, PIECES, Dementia Quality Standards)
• Certification in Mental Health Nursing, Gerontological Nursing, or Geriatric Psychiatry (preferred)
• Current BCLS and CPR (Health Care Provider)
• Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and conflict-resolution abilities
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills
• Ability to work independently in community-based care environments
• Willingness to travel within the service region

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract

Contract length: 6 months

Pay: $88.00-$90.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Mileage reimbursement

Work Location: In person