Withdrawal Management Nurse - Registered Nurse (RN) / Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)

Vancouver Coastal Health • Vancouver, BC

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is implementing minimum Nurse to Patient Ratios (mNPRs) to enhance nursing practice and quality of care, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU), and health organizations. The Withdrawal Management (WDM) Nurse at Oak Care Centre provides direct nursing care within a client and family-centred framework and continuum-based care model. This role involves working as part of an interdisciplinary team, performing nursing assessments and diagnoses, and collaborating with various healthcare providers to develop care plans and interventions. The nurse mitigates risks, administers prescribed medicines, monitors client responses, and provides ongoing education to clients and families on daily living activities, medication use, harm reduction, and coping strategies. Responsibilities also include maintaining client records, participating in team meetings, engaging in quality improvement activities, and continuous professional development. This position aligns with VCH’s commitments to Indigenous Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Planetary Health. The VCH Withdrawal Management Team in South Vancouver operates an inpatient medical WDM program with 24-hour nursing care at the Oak Care Centre. Services include pharmacology, psychosocial intervention, low-barrier groups (yoga, acupuncture, NA/AA/CA panels), and cultural services like Talking Circles, smudging, and spiritual care. Clients are supported by a multi-disciplinary team comprising physicians, nurses, social workers, and detox workers.

Requirements

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
• Broad knowledge of nursing theory and practice within VCH guiding principles for substance use care
• Knowledge of BCCNM Standards for Nursing Practice for Registered Nurses or Registered Psychiatric Nurses
• Demonstrated ability in nursing practice related to screening, assessment, risk identification, care planning, intervention(s), and evaluation
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health and substance use theory and practice including therapeutic communication, crisis intervention and management, psychopharmacology and pharmacology, interdisciplinary care coordination and key VCH and non-VCH community resources
• General knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice and Harm Reduction approaches and Strengths-based care
• Demonstrated ability to promote Indigenous Cultural Safety
• Demonstrated ability to provide competent and culturally safe care in a variety of settings and with diverse populations
• Broad knowledge of violence prevention and non-violent crisis intervention strategies
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to unexpected and challenging events, and reconsider workload priorities
• Broad knowledge of facilitation, mediation, and conflict resolution techniques, and demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team environment with diverse people
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work independently and apply critical thinking in decision making
• Demonstrated leadership, quality improvement and professional development aptitude
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet, email, and other software systems
• Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques and emergency response
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to clients accessing WDM services by working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
• Perform nursing assessment and diagnosis
• Collaborate with team members, educators, partners, peers, leadership, and other regulated and unregulated health care providers to develop care plans and interventions
• Mitigate and identify risks to achieve excellence in substance use care delivery
• Administer prescribed medicines
• Monitor client response
• Demonstrate and provide ongoing education and information to the client/family on activities of daily living, use of medication and side-effects, harm reduction and coping strategies, and integration of health condition to their life
• Prepare and maintain client records according to established professional and organizational standards
• Participate in team meetings
• Engage in team planning and quality improvement activities
• Maintain and update own knowledge

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees