Clinical Nurse Leader/Educator- Full Time

AVI Health and Community Services•Nanaimo, BC

7d•CA$49 - CA$63•Hybrid

About The Position

AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community-based organization providing HIV, hepatitis C, and harm reduction services across Vancouver Island. The AVI Nanaimo Community Health Centre (CHC) offers a variety of programs, including primary care, HIV/HCV, substance use, OAT, STBBI, and PrEP/PEP medical services, alongside outreach and social programming. The Enhanced Harm Reduction Service (EHR) Program is a key component, offering pharmaceutical alternatives to the street drug supply and wrap-around support. AVI also provides educational services for the community and professionals. This role is based within the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Snaw'naw'as People. The Clinical Nurse Leader/Nurse Educator (CNLE) is an advanced dual-functioning nursing role responsible for collaborating with the Nurse Manager and Nanaimo Program Managers to develop, support, and deliver nursing care. The CNLE acts as a clinical leader, providing direct care, coordinating care, and bridging the gap between novice and experienced nurses through on-site education, in-clinic mentoring, and direct clinical nursing care. They utilize evidence and learning theory to develop, facilitate, and evaluate educational programs. The CNLE provides supervision, leadership, and acts as a role model and coach to nursing staff, serving as an accessible clinical resource. They partner with the leadership team to ensure support for multidisciplinary teams and to continuously develop and ensure quality nursing practice and protocols. This position provides person-centered healthcare, including assessment, screening, and education, using a trauma and violence-informed approach. The CNLE must be experienced with harm reduction and committed to collaborating with stakeholders, including people with lived/living experience of criminalized drug use. Proficiency in Primary Care management is integral. The CNLE advocates for health equity, supporting client self-determination and informed consent, particularly regarding reproductive and sexual health, and gender-affirming care.

Requirements

Graduation from an approved school of nursing with a baccalaureate in Nursing.
Current practicing registration as an RN with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
Certification in reproductive health with BCCNM.
Minimum 3-5 years recent full scope nursing experience working with people with elevated levels of poly-substance use, mental health challenges, screening, assessment, and treatment services to clients at risk and/or living with HIV/AIDS including providing STBBI/HIV testing.
Understanding of and the ability to utilize decision support tools and clinical guidelines as outlined in the BCCNM, BCCDC and BCCSU to guide autonomous practice.
Experience working with trans, queer, gender non-conforming, bi, questioning, and GBMSM identified communities.
Experience working with structurally vulnerable clients and communities, independently seeking out, and integrating feedback from multidisciplinary teams and people with lived experience to continuously evolve nursing practices.
Minimum one year of recent experience in healthcare education, adult education, or program development.
Previous experience in responding to medical emergencies such as overdose (naloxone administration, airway management, etc.).
Strong knowledge of substance use disorder and opiate agonist treatment options.
Experience with phlebotomy, vaccine management and immunizations, all forms of STBBI testing and treatment, specimen collection, HIV point of care testing.
Commitment to harm reduction and social justice principles and experience working with individuals who experience intersecting systemic oppression.
Understanding of the impact on individual health and well-being, as well as the considerations for service delivery, related to systemic barriers associated with poverty, mental health, substance use, trauma, racism, colonialism, heterosexism, and gender discrimination.
Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens.
Demonstrated understanding of public health and equity-oriented models of social support and health care.
Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti-racism and a demonstrated commitment to anti-colonial learning/unlearning.
Strong analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonial violence impacts Indigenous People intergenerationally.
Knowledge of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous social services including housing, income and food security supports that may benefit persons served.
Demonstrated commitment to person-centered healthcare service provision.
Works well under pressure and in stressful situations.
Capable, independent practitioner and committed team member.
Excellent communication, conflict resolution, and crisis management skills.
Current Valid BC Drivers’ License with use of a personal vehicle.
Valid and current CPR/BLS for Healthcare Providers certification.

Nice To Haves

The BCCNM certified Practice for Opioid Use Disorder (CP-OUD) designation is an asset.
Leadership experience within a BCNU or other union work site an asset.
Transportation of Dangerous Goods certificate an asset.

Responsibilities

Stays up to date on current research and best practices in treatment harm reduction prescribing, treatment of substance use disorder, HIV, HCV, and other primary care and specialty care areas.
Determines educational opportunities for nursing staff and develops learning plans in collaboration with the Nurse Manager.
Delivers certification courses in topics such as phlebotomy, harm reduction fundamentals, basic counseling skills, wound care, and assessment skills.
Participates in the development of policy and protocol as pertains to clinical practices.
Uses on-site, real-life clinical examples to create new initiatives, policies, and protocols.
Identifies and designs site-specific workflows to support clinical practice.
Orients new nursing staff members to organizational practices, standards of care, and policy and procedure.
Cultivates an open, judgment-free environment where nurses feel safe asking questions, testing skills, or seeking feedback.
Provides direct participant care as a clinic nurse.
Supports reproductive health counseling and ensures the nursing team provides non-judgmental education, counseling, and non-directive options regarding contraception, pregnancy, and abortion care.
Ensures that the nursing team offers a full spectrum of health services to meet the needs of the communities and self-identified GBQ men and gender diverse people in BC.
Ensures that the nursing team provides gender-affirming practices by delivering respectful, competent, and evidence-based gender-affirming nursing care.
Regularly reviews and supports development and implementation of clinical protocols in collaboration with the leadership team and community partners.
Serves as a reliable, calming presence in the clinic, ensuring nursing staff know what to expect from leadership.
Provides person-centred, trauma-informed, and relational supervision and coaching to all nursing staff.
Collaborates with the Leadership team to ensure open communication and coordination across multidisciplinary AVI Nanaimo services.
Works with site leadership to identify and respond to nursing staff support needs, participant concerns, and issues related to clinical practice.
Dives directly into complex, fast-moving clinical situations alongside the team, modeling a calm and trauma-informed presence under pressure.
Supports the Nurse Manager in addressing practice improvement with nursing team members.
Acts as the Nurse Manager designate for occasional community meetings, representing AVI Nanaimo.
Monitors and supports nursing staff needs, the work environment, and relevant risks, ensuring appropriate resources are in place.
Evaluates equipment, products, and supplies in coordination with the leadership team.
Promotes and facilitates a safe and therapeutic environment for the provision of care, including addressing and documenting risk management, critical incidents, and emergency-related issues.
Assists the Nurse Manager with scheduling of work assignments, monitoring and resolving sick/absent calls and requests.
Assists with payroll responsibilities should the Nurse Manager be away.
Demonstrates intentional self-regulation, remaining grounded and emotionally available while managing complexities.
Models healthy professional boundaries and self-care.