Job Summary:
The SAFER Nurse will work in partnership with an interdisciplinary team to provide participant-centered healthcare, including assessment, screening, and education to support participants who are accessing SAFER.
The nurse will use a harm reduction, trauma-informed approach and is required to have demonstrated clinical skills and experience to independently assess individuals with complex primary care health needs and active poly-substance use.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Provide care and support for individuals with high levels of poly-substance use and a variety and complexity of acute and chronic conditions.
2. Work both independently and collaboratively with the SAFER team to support people contemplating or accessing pharmaceutical alternatives to illegal/toxic substances in a variety of settings.
3. Provide care, assessment, screening, education, referrals, and advocacy regarding substance use, acute and chronic health concerns, mental health, sexual health, wound management, and general wellness.
4. Provide harm reduction support through collaborative risk reduction strategy, education, distribution of harm reduction supplies, and naloxone trainings and distribution.
5. Collaborate with participants and SAFER team to develop and maintain individualized care plans, providing ongoing monitoring and support with participants in accordance with the care plan.
6. Work with community partners to ensure seamless support of mutual participants.
7. Provide screening and assessment and administer medications as ordered by program physicians and according to clinical protocols.
8. Provide education, information and appropriate referrals that are responsive to the self-identified needs of participants to manage their health, enhance understanding of their health status, and navigate through the various services and community supports related to their care.
9. Participate in staff meetings, trainings, educational forums, and engagement in community building and networking.
10. Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
* Registered Nurse, Registered Psychiatric Nurse, or Licensed Practical Nurse
* Minimum 1 to 5 years full scope outreach nursing experience working with people with high levels of poly-substance use and mental health challenges
* Previous experience working in supervised consumption/overdose prevention services, safer supply, or other harm reduction programs
* Demonstrated commitment to social justice principles and practices, including harm reduction, anti-racism, decolonization, combating stigma related to drug use, HIV, hepatitis C, and challenging gendered oppression, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia
* Experience working in solidarity with diverse populations, including people who are criminalized for their drug use; people who are denied housing/precariously housed/warehoused; racialized identities; Indigenous persons; LGBTQI2S+ identities; sex workers; people with disabilities
* Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti-racism and a demonstrated commitment to anti-colonial learning/unlearning
* Strong analysis of colonialism and intergenerational impacts of historical and ongoing colonization
* Demonstrated understanding of public health and equity-oriented models of social support and healthcare
* Strong knowledge of typical medical approaches to substance use disorder and opiate agonist treatment options
* Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of primary care, substance use, harm reduction, HIV, HCV, sexual health, mental health, and health promotion
* 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
* To comply with current BC Public Health Orders, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an approved medical exemption
* Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License and use of own vehicle for work purposes is an asset but not required for this position
Skills and Abilities:
* Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position and operate related equipment
* Ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with participants
* Ability to observe and recognize subtle changes in participants
* Strong advocacy skills
* Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
* Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written
* Ability to organize and prioritize workload
* Ability to use related equipment, including computer to complete documentation, data, and reports using Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
* Practiced conflict resolution and non-violent crisis intervention skills
* Ability to work outdoors during all types of weather in all seasons
Position Details:
* Pay: per BCNU pay grid, RN/RPN Level 3 (ranging between $41.42-$55.91) and LPN Level 1 (ranging between $32.84-$41.35), and all applicable premiums apply
* Position Type: Casual
* Hours and Schedule: Casual shifts, potentially falling between Mondays to Sundays - 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
* Start Date: As soon as possible, and this is an ongoing position
* Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Nurses' Bargaining Association 2022-2025, and this role is an Included Position
* Location and Departments: This position will be working out of the Victoria SAFER Clinic in Victoria and in community
* Pension: If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately
* Other Perks: This position gets paid an extra 13% in lieu of vacation and stat holidays, after 180 hours of work, you may be eligible for self-pay Blue Cross extended health benefits
* Proof of Vaccination Required: AVI is under BC's Health Services Order and continues to require proof of vaccination and masking