Join a Mission-Driven Team Creating Real Change
Be part of a growing organization committed to creating positive change for vulnerable communities. At the Gilbert Centre, you'll help strengthen health outcomes for people who are often failed by traditional healthcare systems - and you'll do it alongside a supportive, interdisciplinary team that values your expertise.
This isn't assembly-line nursing. You'll build genuine relationships with clients, meet people where they are (sometimes literally - in shelters, homes, or community spaces), and see the direct impact of your work in treatment completion and lives changed.
Compensation & Benefits
- Wage: $40/hour at 28 or 35 hours/week (0.8 or 1.0 FTE)
- Benefits: Canada Life – Health, Dental, Vision, Drugs
- Paid Time Off: 3 weeks vacation, 3 weeks sick, and 1 week float (annualized)
- Professional development opportunities and cross-departmental collaboration
This role falls within the bargaining unit, CUPE Local 1813.14.
Summary
We are seeking a Registered Nurse (RN) to join our HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Clinic Team. The RN will provide front line nursing, outreach, testing and health promotion, to clients living with, or are at risk of contracting HCV and HIV.
The Clinic RN works with an interdisciplinary team focusing on the needs of people who are significantly marginalized by poverty, substance use, mental health, and houselessness. The RN will support individuals along the continuum of care from prevention, initial diagnosis, treatment and disease management using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach. High level of engagement with the clients is essential for successful Hepatitis C and HIV treatment and is a role expectation.
The Clinic Nurse works as a member of a multidisciplinary team supported by a Nurse Practitioner, Care Coordinators, Linkage to Care, and Clinic Support Worker. The successful candidate will act with professionalism and courtesy toward clients, the general public and colleagues and will demonstrate knowledge and valuing of the client's life situation.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Frontline/Nursing Care
Working to a full scope of practice, the RN will provide comprehensive primary care nursing assessments including analysis of health behaviours related to lifestyle and culture, review of client's medical history, physical assessments, nursing diagnosis, and in collaboration with the client, develop and implement the care plans.
- Have the ability to work independently under medical directives to screen for HCV, HIV and other STBBIs, provide test results, order pre- and post-treatment workup, and administer vaccines
- Ability to triage and consult Nurse Practitioner as needed
- Liaise virtual appointments between the patient and Nurse Practitioner
- Maintain schedule for HIV and HCV patient follow-up
- Provide health teaching and harm reduction strategies to prevent HCV, HIV and other STBBI
- Collect bloodwork and process for lab pickup and complete POCTs under medical directives
- Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
- Meet clients in their own space, if that is considered more conducive to the treatment. This includes clients' home, or a shelter.
- Ability to maintain complete and accurate records in accordance with the CNO and Organizations' policies.
Uphold Professional Code of Conduct and Standards
Due to the highly independent and self-directed nature of this work:
- The candidate will ensure adherence to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Code of Conduct and ensure that all nursing practices align with the CNO's practice standards to maintain professional accountability and ethical integrity in all interactions with clients, colleagues, and the public.
- Demonstrate a commitment to upholding the highest standards of practice by integrating the Code of Conduct and related CNO standards into daily clinical decision-making and care delivery.
- Manage professionalism concerns or complaints in accordance with CNO guidelines, ensuring timely and accurate reporting of any issues, including addressing and resolving professional conduct matters as required by CNO regulations.
- Actively participate in the performance appraisal process, including a comprehensive self-evaluation to identify areas for growth, acknowledge strengths, and pursue continuous professional development.
- Identify, report, and participate in the debriefing of client safety incidents, good catches, occupational health and safety incidents, and near misses to foster a culture of safety, learning, and improvement within the workplace.
- Ensure compliance with all reporting obligations related to incidents, client safety, and professional conduct, and collaborate with appropriate teams to implement corrective actions as needed.
- Will participate in peer chart audit reviews to ensure CNO standards are met
Clinic Coordination and Maintenance
- Leads clinical flow, mentors RPN and clinic support staff, and ensures the safe delegation of controlled acts.
- Review HIV patient referrals and triage intakes based on urgency
- Provide day-to-day clinical oversight, mentorship, and consultation to RPN(s) and other clinic staff.
- Review client assessments, documentation, and follow-up plans to ensure clinical appropriateness and adherence to CNO standards and assist in prioritizing urgent or complex cases.
- Support implementation and adherence to organizational infection prevention and control (IPAC) standards.
- Assist in vaccine management, including ordering and daily temperature checks
- Manage clinic inventory and order supplies as needed
- Complete quality control of medical devices, such as POC glucose meter
Organizational Responsibilities
- Participate in team and organization-wide meetings and committees, initiatives, and events.
- Participate in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program, including quality improvement initiatives for the communities served.
- Collaborate with other programs to foster an integrated, interprofessional care model of delivery and act as a consultant and resource to the leadership team, as well as clinical and non-clinical staff
Community Engagement
- Build and maintain partnerships through outreach and pop-up clinics when/where appropriate and engage constructively and effectively with Gilbert Centre's numerous community partner agencies to ensure the success of the HIV & HCV program.
- Organize outreach Hepatitis C screening and treatment clinics in the community. This might include leading HCV Education Testing Events at correctional facilities.
The responsibilities described above are representative and are not to be construed as all-inclusive.
Qualifications
- Current registration as a Registered Nurse and membership in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario with no restrictions to practice
- Current RNAO membership with malpractice insurance
- Current BLS/CPR certification
- Vaccines up to date (including COVID primary series)
- Have a minimum of 3 years of combined nursing experience in the past 5 years in the following areas: primary care, urgent care or emergency care. Public health experience is considered an asset. Two years could be considered if the candidate demonstrates exceptional equivalent experience in these areas. For example, experience working in nursing stations in northern Indigenous communities.
- Demonstrates an understanding of HCV and HIV knowledge, including prevention, transmission, management, and U=U principles.
- Familiar with reporting reportable diseases to public health and case management
- Experience administering routine vaccines and familiarity with high-risk vaccine schedule
- Demonstrated expertise in medical laboratory procedures, such as phlebotomy skills or willingness to learn
- Demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding of infection prevention and control practices and procedures
- Ability to work with diverse communities with respect, sensitivity, creativity, innovation, cultural understanding, non-judgement and facilitation skills.
- Experience and comfort working with people who have mental health conditions, addictions, and who are living in poverty or incarcerated is required.
- Familiarity with harm reduction philosophy and principles and trauma-informed care
- Strong computer skills, including the use of MS Office Products and Accuro EMR
- Valid driver's license and willingness to travel throughout Simcoe/Muskoka for work related duties.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Training in behaviour de-escalation or willingness to learn preferred
- Experience in wound care is an asset
Please note that the successful candidate will be required to provide a police vulnerable sector check as a condition of employment; however, strong consideration will be given to the type of offence. Only applications with a cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience will be considered.
What This Work Looks Like
This is active, community-based nursing. You'll spend time in the clinic and time in the community - walking outreach shifts of 3-5 km in varied weather, carrying supplies in a backpack (up to 20 lbs), and standing for extended periods. You'll also have regular computer-based documentation. The physical demands reflect the nature of meeting clients where they are, which is central to this role's impact.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Gilbert Centre is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived/living experience, Indigenous communities, 2S-LGBTQ+ individuals, people living with HIV/HCV, and members of racialized or equity-deserving groups. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants participating in all aspects of the selection process.
