Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Niagara West Palliative Care Team (NWPCT) is a unique community team that has grown out of a partnership between West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Community Care Access Centre (HNHB CCAC). This team has served Niagara West since 1996, seeing patients and families in every setting of care including West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Home, McNally House Hospice, Retirement Homes and Long Term Care Facilities.  The NWPCT is composed of a Palliative Care Physician, Palliative Nurse Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Navigator, Psycho-Spiritual Clinician, Bereavement Support Clinician, CCAC Care Coordinator, and all the community palliative care service providers. The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) reports directly to the Director of Community Programs and to the Chief of Interprofessional Practice in the portfolio. The CNS is responsible for leadership Palliative Care across the Health Care continuum. Through specialized direct patient care, leadership, coaching, collaboration, consultation and education, the CNS will assist teams to improve patient & family experience in Niagara West based out of the WLMH site of Hamilton Health Sciences.

1. Works collaboratively with HHS physicians and staff, community physicians, patients, families, McNally House and
community organizations to implement and evaluate care for Palliative Care patients.
2. Works collaboratively with all teams involved in identification, treatment, and care planning for palliative patients
appropriately
3. Develops, reviews and revises protocols, policies and procedures, order sets and processes specific to targeted
population care needs.
4. Collaborates with organizations to maintain and update professional standards of care.
5. Audits compliance with core metrics of programs developed to improve quality care delivery.
6. Communicates outcome data/recommendations for improvement to appropriate organization departments/leaders.
7. Coordinates, organizes, and compiles communications/issues/data /agendas for process improvement, leadership/
management meetings.
8. Serves on committees, project groups and task forces as necessary to achieve program goals and objectives.
9. Interfaces with other programs to support best practice specific to Palliative Care.
10. Participates in community committees to further the agenda for Palliative Care.
11. Provides leadership to promote interprofessional collaboration, teamwork, and team performance
 

Clinical (Practice/Patients and Families):
1. Identifies, receives and reviews request for consults for individuals with life limiting illness.
2. Organizes and facilitates interdisciplinary team rounds for patients.
3. Reviews identified patients' status including implementation of suggestions, and effectiveness of plan of care
4. Provides clinical support (assessment, collaboration, education, interventions) as needed to all staff and physicians
related to Palliative Care.
5. Serves as a liaison with physicians, patients/families, community organizations and staff for Palliative Care patients.
6. Mentors staff in the care of targeted populations.
7. Works closely with members of the interdisciplinary care team (i.e. discharge planning, pharmacy) to coordinate the
discharge/transfer needs of Palliative patients.
8. Develop programs of care that meet the needs of the targeted population.
9. Serves as a consultant to nursing staff, physicians and other disciplines in Palliative Care.
11. Monitors patient care for compliance to standards and communicates non-compliance issue to Manager/Director.
 

Education (Practice):
1. Provides and promotes education of staff and physicians working with Palliative patients.
2. Role models standard behaviors.
3. Facilitates knowledge transfer/dissemination activities by presents in local, national, and international educational/
palliative care conferences.
4. Continues to attend education for continued professional development.
5. Acts as preceptor for nursing students.
6. Support for multidisciplinary learners and continuing education of HHS staff and physicians
 

QI/ Research:
1. Explore opportunities for/develops continuous quality improvement programs for Palliative Care.
2. Identifies/participate in research to improve processes of care for targeted population.
3. Participates in scholarly activities and education advocacy
 

QUALIFICATIONS
1. College of Nurses of Ontario Certificate of Registration
2. Masters Degree in Nursing
3. Certified in Hospice Palliative Care Nursing through CNA
4. 3 to 5 years recent experience as an Advanced Practice Nurse Preferred; and demonstrates advanced practice
nursing competencies
5. 3-5 years experience in Palliative care
6. Further formal training and scholarly experience related to palliative care a definite asset
7. Demonstrated ability to be self-directed, team oriented, with excellent communication, interpersonal and conflict
resolution skills.
8. Academic appointment with the School of Nursing at McMaster University preferred.
9. Cross-appointment with Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Medicine preferred
10. Member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario;
11. Demonstrated expertise and competence in case management and care planning for Palliative Care;
12. Recent 3 to 5 years demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of community resources and health care delivery
systems in acute, primary care and community settings; r/e Palliative Care
13. Recent 3 to 5 years demonstrated expertise and competence working with Palliative Care patients and families
14. Demonstrated ability to respond to patients and situations with flexibility and adaptability;
15. Excellent interpersonal, communication, organization, teaching and decision-making skills required;
16. Demonstrated leadership skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, conflict resolution and negotiation
required;
17. Demonstrated ability to work independently and interdependently with interdisciplinary teams, primary care, and
community services required;
18. Demonstrated expertise in quality improvement, change management and research methodology required;
19. Excellent time management and stress management skills required;
20. Fluency in English and demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication;
21. Computer literacy and basic proficiency required.