RPN Psychiatric Emergency Service

The RPN works within a changing environment and in inter-professional teams to advocate for and promote wellness while ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and ethical nursing care. The RPN shares their knowledge and expertise with others and contributes to the advancement of nursing practice excellence. The RPN continually enhances their practice and competencies through ongoing learning, education, experience and reflective practice.

The Mental Health Emergency Services Area operates 24/7 within the Emergency department to provide care to patients presenting to hospital in psychiatric crisis or seeking mental health support.

Responsibilities
The primary role of the RPN is to provide holistic, evidence-based, culturally appropriate, patient-centred quality care in accordance with the College of Nurses of Ontario's professional standards and Unity Health Toronto's mission, vision, values and policies. The RPN optimizes the patient's experience and care outcomes by:

• Being accountable for one's decisions and professional practice;
• Establishing a therapeutic relationship with the patient;
• Providing autonomous nursing care with patients considered stable and with predictable outcomes;
• Collaborating with other members of the patient's care team;
• Coordinating and communicating patient care activities to optimize the patient's experience and care outcomes; and
• Collaborating and consulting with Registered Nurses and other members of the care team in the care of patients with increasing instability and unpredictability

Patient Care
The RPN has 4 key areas of responsibility:

• Acquires information to assess patient care and learning needs;
• Engages patients and families to assess the level of involvement of the patient/family in their care and integrates into care planning;
• Develops a plan of care and integrates nursing activities with other inter-professional activities;
• Engages in critical inquiry and reflection to select evidence-based interventions;
• Organizes nursing care based on patient care needs and priorities;
• Continuously gathers and analyzes clinical and other relevant data to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan of care and adjusts the plan as needed;
• Anticipates and recognizes rapidly changing situations; and a patient's transition from stable to unstable, establishes priorities; and takes immediate appropriate action to collaborate and consult with the Registered Nurse;
• Provides health education using effective teaching strategies that takes into account the patient/family's learning needs, readiness, and motivation to learn;
• Collaborates with appropriate team members on patient care needs;
• Processes orders and seeks verification of orders from prescribers;
• Documents observations, assessments and care provision in a timely manner to facilitate a current and accurate record of the patient's status and enable effective inter-professional communication;
• Contributes to discharge and transition planning and other planning activities to facilitate care continuity and coordination; advocates for care needs to be met in most appropriate setting; and

Collaboration & Coordination

• Organizes patient care activities while working collaboratively with patients, families and the inter-professional team to achieve agreed-upon outcomes and optimize resource utilization for individual patients
• Establishes and maintains respectful, collaborative, therapeutic and inter-professional relationships within and across the hospital units/programs (and externally where appropriate for his/her patient population)
• Coordinates and communicates patient care activities for a safe and seamless transition from one shift or setting/unit of care to another; ensures appropriate transfer of accountability from one care provider to another
• Participates in hospital committees and other groups to represent the RPN perspective and serve as a bridge to the unit/program and patient needs

Leadership & Professional Development

• Is accountable for his/her actions and decisions and practices in accordance with professional, legal and accreditation standards and evidence-based practice
• Aligns behavior with Unity Health Toronto's vision, mission and values and code of conduct; promotes nursing as a knowledge-based profession; and, supports the advanced of professional practice plans and initiatives
• Engages in self-reflection, performance review and ongoing learning
• Participates in mentoring, teaching and /or coaching students, co-workers and other regulated and unregulated health professionals
• Embraces change that leads to improved nursing practice and better patient outcomes
• Advocates for a safe and healthy work environment

Research

• Participates in or supports research projects
• Supports and participates in evidence based practice implementation and quality improvement initiatives

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a Practical Nursing Diploma Program
• Current Registration as an RPN with College of Nurses of Ontario
• BLS Certification required
• Recent Clinical experience in acute mental health nursing required
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification or equivalent training preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in effective therapeutic communication techniques and interviewing skills
• Comprehensive knowledge base of major mental health disorders and current treatment modalities
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in the care of patients with severe mental illness and substance abuse disorders
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of the Mental Health Act of Ontario
• Demonstrated ability to engage and educate patients and families.
• Demonstrated physical assessment skills, critical thinking skills and problem solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to organize patient care demands and to set priorities in a rapidly changing environment.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to patient and family centered care.
• Demonstrated critical thinking abilities.
• Ability to respond to code white situations
• Ability to work collaboratively with other professions / disciplines in a team environment
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent computer skills
• Proven planning, time management, organization and coordination skills

Hours: Must be available for all shifts (days, nights)

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.