Community Mental Health Nurse - Nurse IV

QUALIFICATIONS
* Baccalaureate Degree in Psychiatric Nursing
* Eligible for active practicing licensure as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse with applicable regulatory body in the province of Manitoba
* Three (3) years within the past five (5) years of related clinical experience
* Current Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) certification
* Current Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) certification
* Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Training, as delineated in Prairie Mountain Health Policy PPG-00002 CPR Training
* Education and knowledge of adult learning principles
* Demonstrated knowledge of mental health promotion, harm reduction and counselling strategies
* Knowledge of mental health conditions and interventions, including working with individuals and groups
* Demonstrated knowledge of psychiatric medications
* Ability to interpret and utilize best practice research data and to incorporate this information into clinical practice delivery and education
* Province of Manitoba Class 5 Drivers License, or equivalent from province of residence, and access to a personal vehicle to provide service within Prairie Mountain Health
* Proficiency with Microsoft programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint), as well as Internet applications and other Information Technology
* Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to work independently
* Demonstrated problem solving and decision making skills
* Demonstrated flexibility to facilitate changes in techniques and procedures in a changing environment
* Demonstrated knowledge and competence of skills and concepts related to the position
* Demonstrated communication skills
* Ability to respect and promote confidentiality
* Ability to perform the duties of the position on a regular basis
* Ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population
* Ability to work effectively and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, clients and within interdisciplinary team

POSITION SUMMARY:

Based in the Mental Health Promotion Clinic setting, the Community Mental Health Nurse (CMHN) uses a population health approach to facilitate access to services to assist clients. The CMHN provides mental health promotion and prevention activities, education, case management, treatment and follow-up for individuals within Prairie Mountain Health (PMH). In collaboration and partnership with other health care providers, clients’ families and community stakeholders, the CMHN focuses on supporting individuals in their personal recovery where they live, learn, work and socialize.

The CMHN works directly with community pharmacies, psychiatrists and physicians and a range of health services to provide comprehensive services for medication management, teaching, monitoring and follow-up for clients across Mental Health Programs. The CMHN provides case management for clients living with both mental health concerns and addictions, and employs a harm reduction approach when needed. In a leadership role as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, the CMHN acts as a resource and knowledge broker to others about mental health issues and interventions.

The CMHN facilitates mental health promoting activities and interventions that aim to improve understanding about mental health issues and to strengthen individual, family, group and community systems.

The Nurse IV recognizes and fulfills their professional responsibilities by practicing in a manner consistent with professional obligations to take actions as per the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses, The College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses, The College of Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice, the scope of practice as defined by the Registered Nurses Act, and the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Act, and other Provincial and Federal legislation.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Overview:

1. Operates and maintains a psychiatric nurse-managed health clinic for clients with complex mental health and physical health issues.
2. Provides client-centered assessments of health status and functional competence of the individual, family or populations within the context of their environmental and social supports.
3. Provides ongoing medication assessment, administration and monitoring for all delivery methods with the exception of intravenous therapies.
4. Provides medication teaching and support.
5. Facilitates management of specific medication protocols.
6. Provides one to one and small group medication education sessions.
7. Acts as resource to colleagues regarding medications.
8. Organizes and manages workload to perform job requirements, including verifying medication orders, placing orders and receiving and storing of medications according to policy.
9. Develops a mutually agreed upon plan and priorities for care with the individual and family and/or substitute decision-maker.
10. Identifies a range of interventions including health promotion, disease prevention and direct clinical care strategies including harm reduction along with short and long-term goals and outcomes according to the individual’s recovery plan.
11. Ensures documentation is complete and is consistent with regional policies including that of the health record, clinical hand-off, incident reports, etc.
12. Liaises with pharmacists, physicians, psychiatrists and the inter-disciplinary team to meet the individualized biopsychosocial needs of the client.
13. Assumes case management responsibilities for clients assigned to the Mental Health Promotion Clinic and supervises and coordinates Mental Health Proctor activities where applicable.
14. Provides mentorship for new staff and supports the learning of students.
15. Uses knowledge of the community to link with, refer to or develop appropriate community resources.
16. Demonstrates knowledge of and effectively implements mental health promotion strategies; incorporates multiple strategies, promotes healthy public policy, strengthens community action and capacity, develops personal skills and reorients the health system.
17. Identifies change strategies that make it easier for people to make healthy choices and promotes resiliency.
18. Understands and uses social marketing, media and advocacy strategies to raise awareness of mental health issues and to reduce stigma regarding mental health issues.
19. Uses strength-based approaches and available resources to take action to address the needs of individuals, families and communities.
20. Evaluates and modifies population health promotion programs in partnership with the individual, community and other stakeholders.
21. Uses harm reduction strategies to identify, reduce or remove risk factors in a variety of contexts.
22. Engages collaborative, interdisciplinary and intersectoral partnerships to address risks to individual, family, community or population health to address prevention and protection issues such as communicable diseases, injury, co-occurring conditions, chronic physical diseases and enduring mental health problems.
23. Collaborates on developing and uses follow-up systems that ensure that the individual or community receives appropriate and effective service, including crisis planning and intervention for safety and protection.
24. Provides individual, group and public education to promote awareness of mental health issues and healthy coping strategies.
25. Practices in accordance with legislation relevant to community health practice (e.g. Mental Health Act including Public Guardian and Trustee legislation, Vulnerable Persons Act, Public Health Act, Child and Adult Protection Acts, Personal Health Information Act).
26. Works collaboratively with the client, family, community, other professionals and stakeholders to identify needs, strengths and available resources.
27. Understands group dynamics and effectively uses facilitation skills to support group development.
28. Uses community development principles through client engagement in a consultative process, building on the readiness of the group or community to participate.
29. Other duties as assigned.