Registered Nurse - Rapid Access Addictions Medcine (RAAM)

Canadian Mental Health Association- Peel Branch • Brampton, ON

7d • CA$75,509 - CA$89,160 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Rapid Access Model allows for walk-in and planned appointments, thus promoting low access barriers for service. The priority group is individuals aged 25-50 with opioid addictions and opioid addiction/mental illness. Other opioid addiction clients will be supported, and the clinic will increase capability to serve alcohol users seeking medical support. The RAAM Clinics provide an addictions treatment pathway between emergency departments and the primary care sector. The multi-disciplinary team will work through the Brampton/Etobicoke and Area region, including Dufferin County and Mississauga. The program can accept client self-referral as well as referrals from a clinician or primary care physician. An initial consultation is followed by treatment planning, counselling, medication, and referrals to community programs, follow-up, and on-going support to the client’s primary care physician. This position will work to provide addiction services to clients at the Rapid Access Addiction Clinic (RAAM), including initial screening and assessment, treatment planning, brief intervention, and monitoring of anti-craving medication in the community following induction at RAAM. The Registered Nurse (RN) in the RAAM program is responsible for assisting clients in developing skills to manage substance misuse and/or planning for solution-focused, time-limited services. They will provide care to clients with substance abuse/co-occurring disorders in a variety of community settings, including Rapid Access Addictions Medicine Clinics and outreach for withdrawal management at various locations. The position involves working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team including Nurse Practitioner, Concurrent Disorder Specialists, Pharmacy, and Psychiatry.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Nursing (BScN) and current registration as a Registered Nurse with College of Nurses of Ontario
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience with individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, both inpatient and outpatient in the community, preferred.
• Excellent assessment, crisis intervention and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to establish therapeutic, supportive relationships with client/family/caregivers/community agencies by utilizing skilled interviewing and communication techniques and appropriate nursing interventions.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible in work assignments.
• Advanced knowledge of psychotropic medication.
• Working knowledge of chemical dependency, including the pathophysiology of substance abuse and withdrawal.
• Good working knowledge of the RAAM model.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to approach, listen, build trust, and communicate across diverse cultures and intersectionality. Willingness to continually improve understanding around cultural competence.
• Openness to operate from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and intersectional framework.
• Willingness to learn and apply practical understanding of different elements of diversity, such as gender identity/expression, race/cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, disability, immigration and precarious status, family status, etc.
• Valid Canadian driver’s license and access to an insured automobile in good repair
• A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening (Police Check) report.

Nice To Haves

• Certification in psychiatric/mental health nursing CPMHN (c) is an asset
• Venipuncture skill and experience is an asset.
• Experience in forensic/dual diagnosed/developmental delay will be an asset.
• Fluency in a second language, including ASL (American Sign Language) is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with mental health and addiction service providers to support the mental health, addiction and primary care health needs of clients who may be in crisis or involved with community mental health and addictions agencies.
• Conduct comprehensive bio-psychosocial model of care and best practices for concurrent disorders.
• Communicate information, both verbally and in writing regarding assessments, treatment plans and evaluations to the treatment team, client, referral source and other caregivers within practice/agency/legal guidelines.
• Participate in regular staff meetings and treatment planning review meetings and to provide the nursing perspective.
• Take the lead role or participate in providing medication administration and other medical services, under the direction of the prescribing physicians.
• Develop, maintain, and supervise psychopharmacologic and medical treatment and medication policies and procedures including transcribing, administering, evaluating, and recording psychotropic medications prescribed by the Nurse Practitioners or Psychiatrist; evaluate and chart psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects; and arrange for required lab work according to protocol.
• Under the direction of the Psychiatrist, organize and manage the system of getting medication to clients and integrating medication administration tightly into clients’ individual treatment plans and providing direction and guidance to other team members.
• Under the direction of the psychiatrist and in collaboration with other registered nurses within the agency, manage pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
• In collaboration with the Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatrist, coordinate, schedule and administer medical assessments of client physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinate psychiatric treatment with medical treatment.

Benefits

• Employee Family Assistance Plan
• extended health and dental benefits
• 4 weeks accrued vacation
• Up to 18 paid sick days accrued per year, plus 2 flexible days each year
• HOOPP Pension Plan
• Ongoing professional development plus $250 annual funding for continuing education and certifications
• $350 annual allowance to invest in achieving your personal wellness goals

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior