RN/RPN, Public Health Overdose Prevention Outreach Team

Detailed Overview

In accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) standards of practice and the Mission and Values of Fraser Health, and working collaboratively and in partnership with the interprofessional care team in the provision of person-centered care, the Registered Nurse/Registered Psychiatric Nurse provides treatment and support that are both inclusionary and flexible for both individuals with substance use disorders and individuals who identify as having a non-problematic relationship with substances. The service is intended to reach a diverse group of people that use substances including youth, LGBTQ2S, POC and Indigenous communities. This work will be done on a primarily outreach basis to meet the needs of the individuals and to provide integration and continuity across the care continuum. Works collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team-based model of care and promotes rapid engagement in the provision of consistent, relevant and timely delivery of person and natural supports (family)-centered care. With an emphasis on a harm reduction framework, the RN/RPN works to facilitate enhanced connections and community, reduces barriers to access health promoting supports and health care, and promotes a culturally-safe and responsive, trauma and resiliency-informed approach, and establishes a welcoming therapeutic environment that promotes individuals' self-determination and independence. In addition to referral-based connections, actively seeks connections with individuals using substances who may be hesitant to engage in accessing traditional services and could benefit from harm reduction and overdose supports and services. This position may be required to travel and/or work at multiple sites across Fraser Health. Responsibilities Coordinates care for individuals by collaborating with interprofessional care team, performing intake functions, conducting substance use and mental health assessments as appropriate, developing, implementing, maintaining and adjusting comprehensive care plans based on individual identified needs and best practices and administering prescribed medications as needed. Monitors, assesses and responds to anticipated or unanticipated individual's responses to care, mental state, response to medications and efficacy of care plan to ensure optimum use of resources and to facilitate person centred care. Plans and provides direct nursing care to individuals in compliance with standards of practice which may include certified nursing practices (STI, Contraception or both, BCCNM Certified practice for STI and CM) by performing activities such as reviewing individual/family history, conducting physical/psychosocial assessments, assessing vital signs, developing a care plan specific for the individual and collaborating with other members of the health care team to discuss and review the care plan, implements other treatment modalities as required such as wound care, communicable disease and STI/BBI screening and follow-up, vaccinations, TB screening, administering and the prescribing of medications in accordance with BCCNM Risk Mitigation Guidelines. Provides outreach nursing care to individuals in their home setting, primary care setting, or suitable alternative including individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness performing nursing functions such as assessing substance use, determining physical and mental status, monitoring withdrawal symptoms and evaluating response to medications administered; explains plan of care to individual or supportive care persons; transports and/or accompanies individuals to physician appointments for assessment to determine suitability for program or to designated safe bed for withdrawal management support. The nurse works from a strengths-based, person-centred care model, using motivational dialogue and engagement techniques. Works collaboratively with individuals and professionals to develop and implement individualized care plans, assisting people to access appropriate services in the community, and works to build trusting connections to reduce isolation. Establishes, maintains and enhances therapeutic relationships based on respect with the individual and their informal support network by engaging stakeholders in care plans or overdose prevention safety planning and evaluation, providing support and follow-up planning, promoting and supporting individuals to manage self care goals, and encouraging informed decision making and empowering the individual to improve their quality of life. Engages with individuals and their families in learning about substance use, evidence-based practices and supports and while facilitating connections to community. Provides services including crisis intervention, individual counselling and education according to a variety of theoretical models to individuals and their informal support networks as required by methods such as assessing situation, eliciting concerns, teaching overdose prevention, recognition and response skill, exploring safety option, identifying goals and expectations, reviewing individual and support system learning needs, assisting with understanding of mental health or substance use, teaching coping strategies, and consulting with colleagues when required. Utilizes the social determinants of health and within the framework of health promotion, harm reduction and prevention, identifies the health issues, behaviours, needs, barriers and challenges for activities with associated risks. Works collaboratively in team settings to develop creative strategies to address the challenges. Initiates and participates in case conferences/meetings with individuals, their support network, service providers and members of the interprofessional team for identification of individual health concerns, concerns regarding services and coordination, emergent issues, and discussion of on-going follow-up care to ensure a coordinated and continuity approach to care. Acts as an advocate to protect and promote individual right to autonomy, respect, privacy, dignity, and access to information. Practices ongoing active process of allyship, unlearning and re-evaluating positions of privilege and seeks to operate in solidarity with people who use substances. Consults and collaborates with members of the inter-professional care team and allied partners including MHSU Physicians, Virtual Addictions, Bed-Based Treatment and Supported Living Services, hospitals, Emergency Departments, Primary Care Providers (GP/NP), Public Health, SHIBBI, SUSAT, Clinical Nurse Educators, MHSU Urgent Care Response Centres (UCRC), Urgent Primary Care Centres (UPCC), drug user networks, First Responders and other health care professionals/providers in the identification and resolution of issues, adjustments to care plans as required, and in regard to changes in the individual's condition. Works to identify, address and problem solve around systemic barriers and institutionalized stigma, social exclusion impeding access to care and ongoing supports for people who use substances and facilitate solutions. Provides harm reduction education, counseling, supplies and support including episodic overdose prevention services (eOPS - witnessed consumption) and drug checking in partnership with other team members Builds trusting relationships with people who use substances and their supply networks to optimize access to community health interventions (e.g. drug checking) and communication (i.e. drug alerts). Aids access to services such as medical appointments, hospitals, and social programs by methods such as providing healthcare information, contacting relevant programs/services, and assisting individuals with processing forms, transportation issues, and daily living tasks. Prepares and maintains appropriate records in accordance with established standards by methods such as documenting assessments, care plans, observations, interventions, individual/support network responses, outcomes/evaluations, and referrals according to practice standards and Fraser Health procedures. Maintains a safe environment for individuals, visitors and employees by adhering to established safety and emergency practices and procedures and reporting any risks and anomalies to the manager. Identifies own learning needs/goals, maintains and updates knowledge in communicable diseases, mental health and substance use issues, reviews these with the manager and engages in a variety of activities to meet these needs/goals and applies these to improve access, integration and coordination of services to improve care for people who use drugs. Participates in research and quality improvement activities by identifying care issues, collecting data, and identifying needs and recommendations for corrective action and changes to practices, procedures or protocols. May be required to: plan, coordinate, and deliver educational sessions to individuals and their support network members, other service providers, and community agencies regarding services. May be required to: facilitate group sessions utilizing psychodynamic, cognitive/behavioural, interpersonal, and supportive interventions in conjunction and consultation with other interprofessional team members. Performs other related duties as required. Qualifications Education and Experience Graduation from approved School of Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing. Two years recent related experience providing services to individuals who use substances, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. May require completion of approved substance use certificate/program. Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse and/or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License and access to personal vehicle with appropriate insurance coverage. Skills and Abilities Ability to complete initial and ongoing mental health and substance use client assessment and provide nursing care through appropriate/prescribed technical, therapeutic, safety type interventions including crisis intervention. Demonstrated skill and knowledge of overdose prevention, recognition and response training Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques. Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events and respond appropriately. Ability to engage and provide safety and harm reduction messaging from a person-centred lens Demonstrated ability to work with culturally diverse populations including Indigenous communities and LGBTQ2S. Knowledge of mental illness, continuum of substance use and substance use treatment. Knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects). Demonstrated orientation to practice includes allyship with people who use drugs, harm reduction, cultural humility and safety, sex-positive, trauma and resiliency-informed practice. Allyship, counselling and group facilitation skills. Knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to substance use practices. Demonstrated de-escalation and conflict resolution skills. Demonstrated ability to provide consultation and leadership. Willingness to engage in outreach to non-traditional environments where people gather (i.e. festivals, bars) Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with individuals, support network/care givers, the public, health care staff and members of the interprofessional care team. Ability to promote person-centered care that demonstrates empathy for individuals/families/care givers, able to provide safety for diverse cultures and preferences, including advocacy for disenfranchised populations. Ability to educate individuals and families/care givers about topics essential to their health care and well-being. Ability to organize and prioritize work. Ability to collaborate with and promote cooperation among members of the inter-professional care team and individuals we work with. Ability to use factual information and basic principles and procedures to support nursing decisions and actions with relevant research-based evidence/evidence-informed practice. Ability to operate related equipment including relevant computer applications. Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

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