Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To assist the Health Care Coordinator in the day-to-day operation of the Health Care Unit.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Providing health care to inmates by: assessing inmate's health status, developing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating inmate treatment plans, documenting assessments and inmate progress, updating the Offender Tracking and Management System (OTIS), preparing reports as requested, developing health care programs for inmates, providing counseling, crisis intervention and health teaching to inmates; co-ordination health care acidities with facility operations; protecting the confidentiality of health care records.
2. Providing group leadership and general supervision to the General Duty Nurses by assigning duties and schedule preparation, as approved by Health Care Coordinator, conducting new hire orientation, providing counseling and instruction. Assists general duty nurses with clinical problem solving and the implementation and evaluation of health care interventions for inmates by reviewing current practices and procedures. Oversees nurses to ensure that they function within their respective scope of practice. Works under the direction of the Health Care Coordinator to prepare the unit schedule of full time and fixed term staff, contributes to unit specific policies/procedures by attending staff meetings and consulting with the Health Care Coordinator.
3. Co-ordinates the day-to-day operation of the health care unit by: ordering supplies, pharmaceuticals, maintaining records of purchases and costs, ensuring safety and security of the health care area by reminding staff of unit security measures. Scheduling special health care clinics for health issues education/ awareness.
4. Maintains competence to practice as a Registered Nurse via quality assurance program, use of health care web sites; provides relief for Health Care Coordinator in his/her absence.
5. Additional duties as assigned by Health Care Coordinator.

Staffing and Licencing :

Current registration in good standing as a Registered Nurse in Ontario.

Knowledge :

Job requires evidenced based clinical health care knowledge and practice and College of Nurses of Ontario Standards of Practice to provide nursing services (e.g. implementing treatment process, first aid/emergency techniques, administering medication.) Job requires knowledge of institutional and health care policies and procedures to ensure appropriate treatment implementation including safety of offenders and security of health care area; to report observations (e.g. rash on offender kitchen helpers) to manager that may affect programs and offender activities. Job requires knowledge of relevant sections of related legislation (e.g. Regulated Health Care Professional Act, Health Care Consent Act) to ensure compliance and consistency with health care standards and to ensure that legislation offender entitlements is adhered to (e.g. consent to treatment, confidentiality of records.) Job requires knowledge of Offender Tracking and Management System (OTIS) to input/retrieve offender information. Job requires excellent team building, interpersonal skills and leadership skills to provide general supervision to a team of nursing professionals. Job requires scheduling of health care unit activities in consultation with manager to co-ordinate with institution routines.

Skills :

Job requires reasoning and analytical skills to elicit and interpret information from offenders and other sources, identifying health care problems, evaluating information and drawing conclusions to assist in the development of health care treatment plans. Job requires excellent up-to-date clinical knowledge and expertise to assess emergency situations, to decide on implementation of appropriate treatment measures. Job requires excellent oral and written communications skills, excellent team building and interpersonal skills, CPR at the BCLS level, First Aid, basic computer skills.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working independently within parameters of clinical practice guidelines, physician orders set by physician treatment directions, ministry, legislation and College of Nurses of Ontario Standards of Practice to provide nursing services (e.g. assessing and triaging inmate health care conditions, developing treatment plans, providing routine and emergency care and treatment including administration of medications), ensuring safety of health care professions, offenders and security of health care area. Job requires evaluating health care situations in the absence of the physician, deciding upon course of action and referring doubtful or serious cases to physician, manager of health care or hospital. Job requires communicating issues such as non-compliance with nursing standards, missing medication, errors and security concerns to manager for discussion and resolution. Job requires receiving advice, guidance and direction for situations not covered by nursing standards/practices and procedures from manager or physician.