Nurse Practitioner - Bariatrics Medical

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton•Hamilton, ON

1d•CA$65 - CA$79•Onsite

About The Position

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are Registered Nurses (RNs) in the Extended Class RN(EC)} who have additional nursing education and experience. NPs are accountable for working within in their legal scope of practice and their level of knowledge skill and judgment. The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) registers NPs in one or more of the following specialty certificates: a) NP-Adult b) NP-Paediatrics c) NP-PHC (Primary Health Care) NP competencies build and expand upon the competencies of RNs in the General Class. NPs have and demonstrate in practice the competencies to use their legislated authority to diagnose order and interpret diagnostic tests prescribe pharmaceuticals and perform procedures. The role of the NP is unique and dependent upon the nature of the clinical setting client population skills education and experience of the individual NP. NP may practise in a wide range of practice settings including hospital in-patients out-patient clinics and community-based clinics. In all settings the focus of practice is health promotion and the treatment of health conditions by supportive preventative therapeutic palliative and rehabilitative means in order to attain or maintain optimal functioning (Nursing Act 1990). All NPs collaborate with physicians other members of the inter-professional team patients and families to provide evidence-informed care that is grounded in professional ethical and legal standards. The NP integrates his/her in-depth knowledge of advanced nursing practice and theory health management health promotion disease/injury prevention and other relevant biomedical and psychosocial theories to provide comprehensive and patient/family centred care. NP practice is characterized by the simultaneous integration and blending of competencies at a level of complexity that reflects the NP's highly developed critical thinking skills clinical nursing experience and advanced education. The focus of this position is health promotion as it relates to weight management. The NP collaborates with physicians surgeons and other members of the inter-professional team patients and families to provide evidence-informed care that is grounded in professional ethical and legal standards.

Requirements

Undergraduate Degree
Master's Degree: Completion of NP-Adult NP-Pediatric or NP-PHC program at the graduate level (Masters or Doctoral) from an approved academic facility OR Completion of NP-PHC program (Baccalaureate level ) prior to 2000 from an accredited university program and a Masters in Nursing (alternatively Masters in relevant health care field)
Appointment or eligible for appointment with a School of Nursing in an academic institution
Mandatory Liability Insurance that meets CNO requirements for NPs (=$5million dollar coverage per setting)
BCLS Certification
NP Registration in the Registered Nurse-Extended Class with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario (NPAO)
Professional association affiliated with a clinical or population specialty
Canadian Obesity Network Member
Three to five years documented experience and expertise in the specified clinical area of hire and evidence of experience or ability to work in clinical settings across the continuum of care
Successful completion of a CNO-approved course to legally enable prescribing of controlled substances
Documented minimum of 2 years’ experience in the treatment of patients with obesity
Demonstrated clinical competence in the management of the chronic disease of obesity
Demonstrated knowledge of provincial requirements in the management of patients requiring treatment for chronic disease of obesity
Demonstrated knowledge sensitivity and expertise in the care of seniors and their families

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an acute care setting tertiary level and teaching organization is preferred
Gentle Persuasive Approach training preferred

Responsibilities

The NP to the Bariatric Program counsels and collaborates with bariatric patients to determine the appropriate course of treatment for their condition and presentation
Demonstrates advanced knowledge of the surgical and medical options for treatment of obesity
Manages post-op complications and conditions related to bariatric survey
Manages common co-morbid conditions in the bariatric patient population (e.g. diabetes hypertension GERD) within the NP legislated scope of practice
Incorporates knowledge of developmental and life stages pathophysiology psychopathology epidemiology environmental exposure infectious diseases behavioural sciences demographics and family processes when performing health assessments making diagnoses and providing overall therapeutic management
Incorporates knowledge of the clinical manifestations of normal health events acute illness/injuries chronic diseases comorbidities and emergency health needs including the effects of multiple etiologies in the assessment diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients/families/clients and in the evaluation of outcomes
Integrates the principles of resource allocation and cost-effectiveness into clinical decision-making
Performs a comprehensive health assessment and completes a focused physical examination; identifies normal and abnormal findings as appropriate to patient/client presentation. The NP exercises clinical reasoning and critical inquiry and assumes accountability for follow-up when indicated
Formulates differential diagnoses orders and/or performs screening and diagnostic investigations interprets results using evidence-informed clinical reasoning and critical inquiry and assumes accountability or follow-up as per legislative scope of practice
Prescribes pharmacotherapy within the NP scope of practice based on the patient's/client's health history health problem/disease disorder condition or life stage and individual circumstances. Counsels patients/clients and their families on the benefits potential side effects interactions and the importance of compliance with treatments medications and follow-up as per legislative scope of practice
Treats and manages acute and chronic illness within a holistic and client/family-centred model of care. Anticipates and diagnoses emergent urgent and life-threatening situations within the NP legislated scope of practice
Collaborates with members of the health-care team to provide and promote inter-professional client-centred care at the individual organizational and systems levels
Acts as a change agent through knowledge translation and dissemination of new knowledge that may include formal presentations publication informal discussions and the development of best practice guidelines and policies
Utilizes ethical decision-making in practice respecting professional religious cultural codes values of those involved bioethical principles and ethical theories to improve client care and deals with complex and challenging situations