Description:
The NLOT team works with the inter-professional health care delivery team in Long Term Care (LTC) homes across Waterloo-Wellington to build capacity and support adoption of clinical best practices for the elderly to achieve:
1. Reduced hospital admissions for conditions which can be treated in the LTC setting.
2. Reduced transfers to the emergency department for conditions which can be treated in the LTC setting.
3. Reduced length of stay for residents in acute care who can be safely transferred back to LTC care settings with the appropriate supports provided by the NLOT.
All Nurse Practitioners at SJHCG are expected to be familiar with and work at their scope of practice and governing legislation.
This position reports to the Vice President of Clinical Services
General:
- Acts as a clinical consultant to the inter-professional team in the LTC homes, including but not limited to provision of direct clinical care for acute and episodic conditions as well as education, mentorship & linkages to resources across the continuum of care;
- Utilizes in depth knowledge that incorporates a wide range of strategies to meet LTCH resident’s needs while improving access to quality care;
- Provide high quality and resident-centred care for acute and episodic health conditions to residents of LTCHs with the goal to reduce ED transfers and hospital admissions;
- Supports implementation or recommendations or treatment plan established in consultation with the attending Physician in the LTCH;
- Responsible for statistics collection related to education and consultation services;
- Remain current with clinical advancements and networks with peers for benchmarking, best practice and, problem-solving;
- Is a clinical resource for LTCH teams as well as the NLOT Nurse Consultants;
- Contributes to the achievement of the NLOT goals and annual work plan.
Clinical Responsibilities:
Health Assessment & Diagnosis:
- Demonstrated competency in: health assessment and diagnosis; health care management and therapeutic intervention; health promotion and prevention of illness, injury and complications in the care of older adults;
- Demonstrates advanced knowledge, skill, decision making, and expertise in the nursing care of complex frail older adults;
- Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge and a strong commitment to promoting professional practice and evidenced based resident centered care.
Therapeutic Management & Performing & Ordering Procedures:
- Demonstrates the competencies to autonomously diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe pharmaceuticals and perform procedures within the RN(EC) legislated scope of practice and designated medical directives as appropriate;
- Collaborates with MD partners as required;
- Promotes and uses clinical guidelines and evidence based practice in provision of health care to residents in a long term care setting.
Ethical Practice:
- Maintains confidentiality of information as outlined in the policies of sponsoring agency and the privacy legislation;
- Advocates for evidence based quality health care practice;
- Supports NLOT team members, LTCH residents and their families and staff in LTCH to advocate for the appropriate resource and service as health care needs required.
Inter-professional & Collaborative Care:
- Ongoing consultation and collaboration with inter-professional team members including the consulting MD when planning and implementing care;
- Develops and maintains collaborative working relationships with members of the health care team within the LTCH as well as within the acute care hospital (i.e. GEM Nurses) and within the community (PRC, HPC, BSO teams);
- Demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development.
Qualifications/Experience:
Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from a recognized University.
- Masters Degree in Nursing with a related focus is preferred.
• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) as a Registered Nurse - Extended Class (RN (EC)), Nurse Practitioner – Adult, preferred
- Valid driver’s licence and full time access to own vehicle
- Ability and willingness to travel and work in various urban and rural settings/environments: community home, long term care homes (LTCH), retirement homes, acute care hospitals
- In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to provide a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate for Vulnerable Sector
- Prior experience as a Nurse Practitioner in the community and/or long term care home in the areas of geriatric mental health/geriatric medicine preferred
- A minimum of 3 years’ current experience as a Nurse Practitioner is desired
- Experience working in a team setting
- Experience and knowledge of client/safety issues and demonstrated capacity to apply client/safety practices
- Experience with quality improvement processes an asset