The Registered Nurse of the Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) is responsible for participating in the conducting of psychiatric assessments, assessing clients' physical health needs, making appropriate referrals to community health providers, providing management and administration of medication in conjunction with the psychiatrist and/or health care providers. The Registered Nurse’s duties include providing a range of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services in office and community based settings to complex clients with severe and persistent mental illness whose needs and outcomes are not always predictable. The Registered Nurse is also required to work evening shifts and weekends on a rotating basis along with other members of the interdisciplinary team. This position reports to the ACT Team Coordinator.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate care for clients with severe and persistent mental illness, and initiate a plan of care with appropriate actions/interventions to attain their highest level of functioning in the community.
- Provide case management services to an assigned caseload, crisis intervention, medication management and practical assistance with activities of daily living.
- Communicate efficiently in a fast paced setting with client, family, ACTT workers, and service providers.
- Anticipate problems or deterioration in the client's mental status before it actually occurs and takes supportive action.
- Highly skilled in assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders, suicide prevention, and the management of aggressive behavior.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to culture and diversity.
- Maximize the client's participation and control in their own treatment, providing information and support for decision making.
- Manage medical supplies, and under direction of the Team Lead and/or the team psychiatrist, administer and prepare psychiatric and non-psychiatric medications and treatments accurately and safely.
- Monitor ongoing physical assessment of clients, including side effects, reactions and toxicities. Follow-up actions are initiated when appropriate.
- Regularly liaise with community pharmacies, labs, health care providers, ODSP, Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, community agencies and any other collateral supports.
- Provide depot injections and blood sampling in the community and ACTT office.
- Articulate RN role and promote the value of nursing. The RN recognizes their own skills and expertise, drawing appropriately upon the strengths of other disciplines in the coordination of patient care.
- Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and community mental health resources.
- Other duties as required.
Patient Care
The RN has 4 key areas of responsibility:
- Acquires information to assess patient care and learning needs
- Develops a plan of care and integrates nursing activities with other inter-professional activities
- Engages in critical inquiry and reflection to select evidence-based interventions
- Organizes nursing care and assigns or changes nursing care activities where appropriate
- Evaluates the effectiveness of the plan of care and adjusts the plan as needed
- Anticipates, recognizes and addresses rapidly changing situations
- Provides health education to patients and their families using effective teaching strategies
- Documents observations, assessments and care provision
- Contributes to discharge and transition planning
- Refers patient to other agencies or services as needed
Collaboration & Coordination
- Serves as the primary resource for organizing and coordinating patient care activities
- Establishes and maintains respectful, collaborative, therapeutic and inter-professional relationships
- Coordinates and communicates patient care activities for a safe and seamless transition and appropriate transfer of accountability
- Participates in hospital committees and other groups
Leadership
- Aligns behaviour with SMH's vision, mission and values and Code of Conduct
- Supports the advancement of professional practice
- Utilizes effective judgment in assigning patient care activities
- Engages in self-reflection, performance review and ongoing learning
- Participates in mentoring, teaching and /or coaching students, co-workers and other regulated and unregulated health professionals
- Embraces change that leads to improved nursing practice and better patient outcomes
- Advocates for a safe and healthy work environment
Research
- Participates in or supports research projects
- Supports and participates in evidence based practice implementation and quality improvement initiatives
Qualifications
- Bachelor or Nursing preferredwith preparation in the specialty areas of Psychiatry and Community Nursing is an asset.
- Current Certificate of Competence with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
- One year of recent experience providing service to clients with mental health issues in a community setting preferred.
- 3 years clinical work experience and advanced clinical skills working with clients with severe and persistent mental health issues preferred. Addictions experience is an asset.
- Ability to work closely and plan care with the client's community supports and family.
- Experience and aptitude making shared decisions around complex client care issues within an interdisciplinary mental health team.
- Superior communication skills with proven ability to work in a collaborative setting.
- Supportive counselling, case management and crisis intervention skills.
- Excellent knowledge of community resources including outpatient and inpatient treatment centres.
- Knowledge of current issues, trends, community needs and literature in relation to mental health care.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to prioritize and develop strategies and action plans.
- Experience in using word processing and general comfort with using computers and technology.
- Satisfactory attendance record.
Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.
