SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse provides and coordinates nursing care services such as patient assessment, patient and family teaching, and supportive activities for children with life threatening illnesses and their families, consistent with established policies, standards, and philosophy of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, and CRNBC Standards for Nursing Practice in BC. There are casual, on-call positions available.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Graduate from a recognized nursing program at the baccalaureate level supplemented with two (2) years recent pediatric and/or palliative nursing experience or an equivalent combination of education, experience and training.
Current practicing registration with the CRNBC. Current CPR BCLS certification.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated clinical competence.
• Knowledge of pediatric care principles.
• Knowledge of palliative care principles.
• Knowledge and skill to operate a personal computer which includes knowledge of MS Office and Windows programs such as MS Word, Excel, MS Outlook, etc.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work.
• Ability to instruct/train/orientate.
• Ability to effectively identify problems and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to operate related equipment and devices.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

TYPICAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Using a framework for nursing practice, assess children and families needs; collects and compiles data; identifies problems, develops, communicates, implements and evaluates care plans.
• Evaluates effectiveness of the care plan by assessing symptoms and changing needs of the child and revises the care plan in consultation with interdisciplinary care team members, children, and families.
• Provides direct patient care by implementing the care plan, and collaborates with other members of the health care team to evaluate family-centered patient care in the particular setting.
• Teaches patients, family members, or other care-givers by providing and explaining information, demonstrating procedures and use of equipment, checking the learners’ use of procedures, techniques and equipment, and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the selected teaching methods.
• Consults and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to ensure a coordinated plan of care to meet children and family needs.
• Maintains patient records by collecting and documenting information including health care information regarding patients and their families, nursing observations, telephone communications, interventions, teaching and care evaluations to ensure that patient records are current and complete.
• Participates as a member of the health care team in family care conferences and rounds and reports observations, problems and changes in children and families conditions.
• Promotes children and families advocacy by ensuring children’s rights are understood and respected.
• Initiates and implements changes in nursing practice to reflect current evidence based practice and participates in the development of policies, procedures, and standards for clinical practice.
• Participates in orientation and ongoing education for a variety of staff and students by acting as a resource person, teacher and role model.
• Promotes the implementation and evaluation of nursing research and participates in quality improvement activities, including regularly gathering feedback from families on CP services.
• Provides input to the Nursing Coordinator or Clinical Nurse Specialist on policies, procedures, and operational requirements, by observing service needs and providing suggestions which address patient and family.
• Follows policies, procedures and standards of excellence to ensure a safe environment for children and families, other staff and visitors.
• Collects data for the workload measurements, nursing audits and incident reports.
• Participates in quality control activities/programs.
• Participates in committees and meetings which have an influence on clinical practice such as the Quality Council Committee.
• Participates in educational activities in order to enhance knowledge and skills required for practice.
• Participates in approved research projects by collecting date, answering questionnaires and assisting in clinical trials.
• Responds to changes in practice that reflect research findings relevant to care.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Please send your cover letter and resume to:

Human Resources
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
1690 Matthews Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 2T2
Fax: 604 739 4376
e-mail: recruitment@canuckplace.org   

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates who have been short-listed will be contacted. No phone calls please.