| Date: |
June, 2015 |
| Reports to (Job Title): |
Practice Leader Nursing (PLN) |
| Jobs Reporting (Job Titles): |
None |
| Department: |
Health Services |
Location: |
Main Campus |
Grade: |
USG 10
35 hr/wk
|
Primary Purpose
The Mental Health Nurse (MHN) reports to the Practice Leader Nursing (PLN). The primary role of the MHN is to provide timely and effective mental health care for University of Waterloo Students within an inter-professional mental health team and the MHN scope of practice. The MHN is also required to function as a best practice resource for stakeholders concerning mental health issues and will have a strong focus on inter-professional collaboration, education, and support of members of the various multi-disciplinary teams working towards student mental health.
The MHN role includes application and interpretation of best practice assessment tools used within Health Services and Counselling Services.
Key Accountabilities:
1. Subject Expertise:
- Provide support and guidance to various multi-disciplina ry teams focused on mental health issues
- Understand and apply relevant legislation i.e. Human Rights Code of Ontario, Regulated Health Professions Act, Privacy Legislation, and the Mental Health Act
- Understand academic accommodation issues and Student Discipline policies. This may include consultation with members of the interdisciplinary team and AccessAbility within the limits of confidentiality on specific cases
- Understa nd and support a campus that provides physical and psychologica l health and safety for all its members
- Ability to function effectively in team situations both within and across departments and other organizations to achieve optima l collective results
2. Prevention and Health Promotion Support:
- Assist with mental health and wellness questions; facilitate the transfer of research knowledge into practical application on a case-by-case or program- wide basis
- Facilitate regula r and ongoing education for clinical staff, student services staff and academic faculty focusing on effective psychological health and safety support and intervention for students
3. Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration :
- Work in partnership with interdisciplinary team which includes staff of Ca mpus Wellness, AccessAbility and student services
- Advise and support departmental leaders, university staff a nd administrators on issues pertaining to student mental health including but not limited to: psychological health and safety, cultural sensitivity, substa nce use risk reduction, suicide prevention a nd wellness promotion
- Assist in identification of students in need of case management; provide case management to students as needed
4. Clinical Service Provision:
- Provide direct clinical service in the student health clinic
- Provide direct clinical service and team participation in the care of students by mental health professiona ls a nd psychiatrists
- Provide wellness teaching and clinical support for patients under the care of psychiatrists
- Provide case management function by connecting students to resources both on and off campus (e.g. housing, financial assistance, family support and academic accommodation)
- Provide ongoing support, assessment to students during hospitalization and in the transitions on and off campus related to their mental health condition
- Administer injecta ble medications and assist physicians and psychiatrists with completion of forms required under the Mental Health Act
5. Mental HealthInitiatives:
- Identify menta l health needs in partnership with the Wellness Education team, the Director of Campus Wellness, the Director of Counselling Services and the University Medica l Director
- Develop ongoing/annua l intervention programs; provide links to community agency programming and public health initiatives appropriate for the student population
6. Clinical Supervision:
- Provide clinica l supervision for Nursing Students from local post-secondary educational institutions (i.e. Conestoga College) and psychiatric residents from Kitchener base of the McMaster Medica l School with guida nce from the psychiatric adjunct professors contracted with Health Services
7. Policy Review and Mainta ining Medical Directives:
- Create and maintain a structured approach to medica l directives review in cooperation with the Practice Leader Nursing
- Regularly review, update, and obtain approval of relevant policies and medical directives that pertain to the practice of Menta l Health Nursing in Health Services
Position Requirements
Education:
- Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (required)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (preferred)
- Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses (an Associate group of the Canadian Nurses Association) - member or similar affiliation or certification
- Training in ASIST, mental health first aid and QPR or equivalent programme
Experience:
- At least 5 years relevant clinical practice experience in a mental health setting
- Working knowledge of Ontario Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation
- Demonstrated experience in suicide prevention and case management
- Current knowledge of typical nursing requirements in a mental health/post-secondary population including: nursing mental health assessment, motivational counselling, psychological health and safety
- Able to administer injections as ordered by physician/psychiatrist
- Ability to make clinical decisions within professional domain
- Highly developed ability to organize time and set priorities effectively
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Effective coaching, presentation and training skills
Technical:
Previous experience with an electronic medical record (EMR) program
Technical:
| MS Word |
Excel |
PowerPoint |
Other |
| Proficient |
Proficient |
Proficient |
See above |
Nature and Scope
Interpersonal Skills:
Internal Contacts: wellness staff, AccessAbility, residence life and student success office staff, athletics, academic advisors and faculty, peer health educators, campus student organizations and clubs
External Contacts: Health care agencies and hospitals, community health care providers, community social service agencies, Public Health, post-secondary institutions, legal services and professional organizations including police and lawyers, self-help alliances
- It is of critical importance that the MHN has the ability to demonstrate respect, dignity and integrity in interpersonal relationships.
- It is of critical importance that the MHN has the ability to establish appropriate boundaries with an empathetic, non-judgmental approach in clinical relationships.
- It is critical that the MHN possesses personal resilience with positive personal coping and wellness strategies to sustain the work in crisis intervention and case management.
Interpersonal Skills:
- Participate in student health care using mental health knowledge, critical reasoning, personal experience and the application of public health and nursing processes
- Function highly effectively in team situations both within and across departments and other organizations to achieve optimal collective results
- Share personal health information in an effective and collaborative manner while maintaining confidentiality
- Prioritize, adapt and react quickly to rapidly changing sensitive situations, calmly and effectively
- Provide timely feedback to enquiries and review mental health programme delivery as requested/annually
- Interact with officials in local hospitals, agencies, Mental Health Nurses Association aswell as other Universities/Colleges, local community leaders and local medical community as needed
- Demonstrate respect, dignity and integrity in interpersonal relationships; demonstrate positive personal coping and wellness strategies
Level of Responsibility:
- Responsible and accountable for appropriate clinical service provision
- There are no direct reports to this position, however oversight of residents and student placements may be required
- When called upon, must be able to interact with all levels of management across the University spectrum
- All actions must be able to withstand legal scrutiny
Decision-Making Authority:
- Will be required to provide mental health care and make independent decisions in the absence of a physician while working within the framework of all relevant legislation
- Process confidential and sensitive medical information, work independently, and exercise judgment and discretion in the performance of duties to the full scope of practice
Physical and Sensory Demands:
- Moderate demands typical of an Mental Health Nurse in a post-secondary environment
Working Environment:
- Exposed to stress and pressure associated with clinical and program responsibilities
- Involves moderate risk resulting from unavoidable exposure to patients with emotional and potential aggressive behaviours or uncomfortable environmental conditions
- There may be unusual hours or schedules, multiple and/or tight deadlines beyond one's control and interruptions (e.g. phone calls, e-mails and unplanned but urgent support requests, varying volumes at different times of year)
- Highly developed ability to organize time and set priorities effectively
