Nurse Practitioner

Who we are:
Canadian Mental Health Association Durham is an integrated community mental health and
primary care hub that has been providing mental health services to Durham Region for over 60
years.
During that time, it has evolved to provide a broad range of services to individuals and their
families experiencing mental health challenges, from information and education to case
management, psychosocial rehabilitation, housing and primary healthcare. These services are
provided through inter-professional teams focused on providing clinically based services that, in
addition to dealing with client mental health issues, address social determinants of health using
the recovery model.

Overview of the role: The Nurse Practitioner provides services to clients who include the
individual throughout their lifespan, the family, and the community, with strong emphasis on
health promotion, patient education and disease prevention.

Responsibilities:

Assessment
• Working within the scope of practice of the RN (EC), performs a comprehensive health or
symptom directed assessment synthesizes data from multiple sources to make diagnosis, as
part of the health care team
• Spend adequate time with the client to determine the presence of existing and potential
health problems, with a major focus on related lifestyle, psychological, sociocultural, and
environmental risk factors which may influence the client’s health status, deals with these
personally or by referral to or in consultation with, other health care providers and
agencies/services
• In accordance with the philosophy of primary health care, encourages clients and families to
take responsibility for their own health by involving them in risk factor and health problem
identification, goal setting, and the choices of interventions for disease treatment and
prevention, health promotion
• Works collaboratively and in consultation with the collaborating physicians and specialists as
defined in the RN(EC) scope of practice “Expectation for consultation with physicians”
• Works within medical directives as established and approved by CMHA Durham and the
collaborating physician
• Determine the need for and orders from an approved list and interprets the results of
screening and diagnostic laboratory tests, within the scope of practice
• Determines the need for and orders and interprets reports of diagnostic Imaging within the
scope of RN(EC) practice
• Keeps complete, accurate, legible and timely records of client’s visits, which will provide
information to assist other practitioners in continuing the client’s care
• Sees clients at the clinic with scheduled and urgent appointments, and in the community
through home visits, during regular and extended hours

Treatment
• Provides advances nursing care and treatment (including pharmacological complementary
therapies and/or counselling interventions for health problem) Nurse Practitioner, NPLC 2
• Monitors the ongoing therapy of clients with chronic stable illness by providing effective
pharmacological, complementary, or counselling interventions
• Prescribe drugs included in the Schedules of the Regulations to treat diseases or disorders
within the RN(EC) scope of practice
• Collaboration with physicians, independently and with other allied health to develop and
discuss appropriate individualized care plans with client/family caregiver based on best
practices
• Documents using client health records, refers to and arranges follow-up as necessary
• Implements strategies to foster independent and healthy lifestyles with the chronically ill
medical population
• Synthesizes information from individual clients to identify broader implications within the
family
• Assesses and manages the care of families, in collaboration with team members
• Uses community assessment data to identify community needs and resources and develops,
implements and evaluates appropriate programming
• Ensures that encounter forms and other statistics have been recorded and participates in
their analysis
• Involves and encourages clients in decisions and actions about their own health
• Initiate and develops health education and other activities that assist, promote and support
clients as they strive to achieve the highest level of health
• Delivers health education program for patients and communities
• Implements strategies to promote health and prevent disease for both primary and secondary
prevention
• Advocates for services with clients

Organizational Role
• Maintaining current knowledge of policy manuals, reading minutes of meetings and keeping
up to date with organizational happenings
• Contributing to the efficient functioning of the organization and the attainment of goals
• Basing practice on sound theoretical knowledge and best practices
• Arranging priorities as necessary to perform tasks
• Knowing established work and administrative procedures

Risk Management
• Minimizes risks adhering to CMHA Durham policies and procedures identifying, assessing,
evaluating and controlling risks ensuring well-being of staff and clients

Skills you bring:
Council of Ontario University Program in Nursing Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner
Program Certificate (or recognized equivalent) in good standing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Master in nursing or health-related field required
• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario as an RN(EC) required
• Current Membership with the RNAO and evidence of liability insurance Nurse Practitioner,
NPLC 3
• Liability protection or liability insurance required (CNPS)
• Satisfactory criminal reference check
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Intermediate proficiency in written and verbal French is an asset
• Proficient in use of internet, Microsoft software, drug database programs
• Current Ontario Driver’s License • Experience with electronic medical records system is an
asset
• Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, and other related
legislation in Ontario is an asset
• Sound knowledge of psychotropic medications including usage and potential side effects
• Ability to manage a system of medication checks ensuring accuracy
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships clients, community, partners and
represent the agency in a professional manner at all times
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills and ability to formally present information
to individuals or groups in order to develop, implement and monitor nursing care plans and
attend meetings
• Ability to resolve complex client problems in order to ensure a high standard of nursing
service
• Excellent assessment and organizational skills
• Ability to work with individuals of diverse backgrounds
• Flexibility to adapt to change and support any function required within the clinic (i.e.
injections, phlebotomy, administrative support)
• Ability to work independently when necessary
• Ability to think critically and creatively
• Ability to make accurate nursing assessments and implement best practices
• Ability to minimize risks adhering to established policies and procedures
• Ability to participate as a member of a high performance multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), internet
• Working within the scope of practice of the RN (EC), performs a comprehensive health or
symptom directed assessment synthesizes data from multiple sources to make diagnosis, as
part of the health care team
• Spend adequate time with the client to determine the presence of existing and potential
health problems, with a major focus on related lifestyle, psychological, sociocultural, and
environmental risk factors which may influence the client’s health status, deals with these
personally or by referral to or in consultation with, other health care providers and
agencies/services
• In accordance with the philosophy of primary health care, encourages clients and families to
take responsibility for their own health by involving them in risk factor and health problem
identification, goal setting, and the choices of interventions for disease treatment and
prevention, health promotion
• Works collaboratively and in consultation with the collaborating physicians and specialists as
defined in the RN(EC) scope of practice “Expectation for consultation with physicians” Nurse
Practitioner, NPLC 4
• Works within medical directives as established and approved by CMHA Durham and the
collaborating physician
• Determine the need for and orders from an approved list and interprets the results of
screening and diagnostic laboratory tests, within the scope of practice
• Determines the need for and orders and interprets reports of diagnostic ultrasounds within
the scope of RN(EC) practice
• Keeps complete, accurate, legible and timely records of client’s visits, which will provide
information to assist other practitioners in continuing the client’s care
• Sees clients at the clinic with scheduled and urgent appointments, and in the community
through home visits, during regular and extended hours

EFFORT
• Sits, stands and walks daily in order to perform the duties of the job
• Concentration, attentiveness and creativity required daily to assess clients, administer
medications/ injections, attend meetings, manage system of medicine administration, prepare
documents, listen to clients, use nursing equipment, etc., as well as may lift walkers and push
wheelchairs as needed
• Committed to self-care to maintain therapeutic competencies

WORKING CONDITIONS
• Works in a medical office environment, may also be required to work in residential homes,
doctors’ offices, and shelters
• Exposure to clients in crisis
• Exposure to abusive/irate clients, deadlines, multiple demands, distractions/Interruptions
• Exposure to hazards such as blood and bodily fluids and cleaning fluids

What we offer:
CMHA Durham is a non-profit community-based organization that believes that mental and
physical health care is for everyone regardless of class, race, sexuality, gender, age, faith, or
ability. With a hybrid working model, memberships to meditation apps, competitive vacation,
wellness time and 100% employer paid health benefits, work-life balance is not only
encouraged but expected. Our Monday – Friday work week has 35 hours for most position and
everyone gets their birthday off with pay.

Read more about us at CMHADurham.org/getinvolved.
CMHA Durham endorses the principles of workforce diversity and does not use AI algorithms or
automated decision-making in the recruitment process. All qualified candidates are
encouraged to apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please advise us if you require any level of accommodation, we are here to help and support you.

Application Procedure

         Deadline for application is August 12, 2024