Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide general nursing services to patients who present with a spectrum of illnesses and health care concerns, in one of Ontario's correctional facilities, housing inmates with diverse needs and security requirements.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Assessing, intervening, and evaluating a patient's health status, including developing specific care plans. Triaging health care needs based on results of the assessment and consultation with the inter-professional team; interviewing and obtaining health information from family or community health care providers.

2. Planning for and provision of health care treatment, including co-ordination of health care considering operational and court requirements. Facilitating health care services from both institutional and community health care professionals. Evaluating a patient's health care status and revising the care plans based on evaluation. Advocating for health care programs.

3. Documenting health care assessments, treatment, condition, behaviour, evaluation of health care status according to relevant College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Professional Standards and Ministry policy. Completing reports/documents (Occurrence reports, administrative summaries, court letters, Accident and Injury Reports, etc.) and updating OTIS alerts as required.

4. Maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) of personal health information.

5. Providing emergency health care services, crisis intervention, health teaching, counselling, preventative care, harm reduction programs and infection prevention and control programs.

6. Consulting with the inter-professional team as required.

7. Ensuring health care practices are in line with the security of the institution, ensuring safety and security of the health care area, health care equipment, and pharmaceuticals.

8. Maintaining competencies to practice as a Registered Nurse in Ontario via participation in continuing education relevant to the practice environment, CNO Quality Assurance Program, using health care resources as required.

9. Assisting in the orientation of new employees, including mentorship and training of job specific duties.

Staffing and Licensing :

Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of nursing theory, evidence based practice, current treatment modalities, community health care resources and CNO Standards and Guidelines to provide health care services through the assessment, development, implementation and modification of treatment and care plans which aim to achieve optimum health outcomes.

Knowledge of institutional and health care policies and procedures to ensure safety of patients, security of health care areas and equipment/supplies/pharmaceuticals and to report any clinical precautions. Knowledge of relevant legislation (e.g. Regulated Health Care Professions Act, Health Care Consent Act, Mental Health Act) to ensure that health care services are provided within legislation.

Current CPR at BCLS level certificate.

Knowledge of the CNO scope of practice for Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses and Nurse Practitioners to provide nursing services effectively and to full scope of practice.

Skills :

Incumbent requires the following skills: physical assessment, analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills to provide emergency, urgent and routine health care services. Analytical skills are required to elicit and interpret information from patients and other sources, identifying health problems, evaluating information and drawing conclusions to develop health care treatment plans. The incumbent should possess well-developed analytical skills to evaluate a patient's response to planned health care intervention and to decide in conjunction with the patient and the inter-professional team, whether to continue or revise health goals and interventions, considering response to interventions, patient motivation, and alternative therapy. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including medical terminology and basic computer skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work as a member and leader of the health care team in developing, implementing and evaluating health care treatment and discharge plans.

Communication skills to advocate on behalf of patients health care with professional and correctional employees and community agencies; to document patient treatment and progress. Interpersonal skills to teach/advise/counsel patients about health care interventions, explanation of possible side effects of health care treatment and medications; consequences of not following recommended treatment plans. The use of discretion to interpret or clarify information about health care treatment to a patient, institution employees, respond to patient complaints or concerns.

Organizational and time management skills to coordinate daily job duties with health care unit activities and with institution routines (e.g. medical clinics and medical treatment of patient).

Freedom of Action :

Incumbent is required to work independently within parameters set by physician, nurse practitioner, Ministry, legislation and evidence based nursing practices to provide nursing services (e.g. planning, implementing and evaluating individual health care treatment plans, first aid/emergency techniques, administering medication), safety of patients and security of health care areas. Incumbent assesses health care complaints and decides appropriate course of action; referring doubtful or serious cases to physician or nurse practitioner, supervising nurse or hospital. Must be able to communicate clearly any issues such as non-compliance with nursing standards, medication concerns, security concerns to Health Care Managers for discussion and resolution. Must be open to accepting constructive feedback and advice, guidance and direction for situations not covered by methods and procedures from manager, physician or nurse practitioner.