Job Summary
The Nurse in our Early Learning Center provides hands on medical care and a holistic and inclusive approach to each child’s health and wellbeing. As the primary caregiver of children with complex medical needs, our nurses work collaboratively with staff and parents/guardians to provide and advocate for the needs of each child to ensure each child reaches their full potential. Hope’s Home nurses also play an important role in developing all our children’s knowledge and experience with diversity and inclusivity through engaging conversations and experience. Nurses in the Early Learning and Childcare centres report to the Manager of the Early Learning Centre.
Responsibilities
Operational Duties
- Provide medical care within the scope of practice per valid license, as outlined in SALPN/SRNA/RPNAS competencies, which includes but is not limited to performing:
- comprehensive and focused health assessments on children,
- medication administration,
- gastric tube care and feeds,
- dressing changes and wound care,
- monitoring and administer tracheotomy care, and
- managing oxygen saturation and ventilator equipment.
- Use and adapt assessment tools and techniques based on the children’s individual needs.
- Collaborate with outside agencies as needed to ensure full continuity of care.
- Check and maintain emergency and assessment equipment and keep it in good working order.
- Follow infection control protocols.
- Create an inclusive and stimulating environment that is safe and suitable for all children, including those with complex medical or developmental needs.
- Promote independence in children with complex medical needs by helping them manage and understand their own medical care.
- Offer direct nursing care for complex medical, nursing and intervention therapies due to disabilities and/or chronic diseases.
- Develop and manage nursing care plans for children with complex medical needs.
- Participate in meet and greets and complete assessments of new child during intake.
- Complete an initial head to toe assessment of each child that requires nursing intervention to determine child’s baseline.
- Communicate with families and caregivers on a regular basis to provide updates on child’s progress and health and wellbeing.
- Collaborate with each child’s family and healthcare team to create up to date care plans and protocols.
- In an emergency, accompany child to hospital or other medical facility in the absence of the caregiver, if second nurse is available.
- Act as a preceptor for new nurses and students.
- Provide medical orientation for non-medical staff during onboarding.
- Connect with each child individually to develop a trusting relationship.
Administration
- Assisting in new admission by obtaining health history and current health status and creating a medical chart for the child.
- Keep medical charts up to date to reflect a current, accurate picture of the child.
- Document observations and information on progress notes and other appropriate records.
- Update various forms daily and monthly (e.g., daily task lists, MARS, allergy lists)
- Complete Ministry of Education medication administration, minor injury and unusual occurrence forms as required.
- Conduct narcotic med counts daily with a partner, at the beginning and end of each shift and sign.
- Ensure ratios are being maintained throughout the day and report any gaps to manager.
- Educate staff, all children and families about medical topics and protocols (e.g., needle safety, physiology, anatomy, and biology).
- Create and teach children on age-appropriate health and medical topics.
- Train staff on medical emergency protocols by performing mock medical emergency drills.
- Collaborate with Public Health regarding communicable illnesses and outbreaks.
- Maintain a safe, clean, and organized nursing station as well as perform inventory and order medical supplies.
- Consult and support the Nutrition Specialist with dietary needs.
Occupational Health and Safety
- Create a psychologically safe work environment (resolve conflicts in respectful ways and ensure a fair resolution, provide an environment where employees feel safe and supported to share ideas, listen, learn from, and seek to understand the ideas of others).
- Complete all required OHS training.
- Monitor, report and resolve any safety hazards in the work environment.
Qualifications
- Practicing License in good standing with the licensing body: SALPN, SRNA, or RPNA
- Up to date First Aid, CPR Level BLS.
- Transferring, Lifting and Repositioning (TLR) training an asset.
- Minimum 2 years of pediatric experience preferred.
- Experience with ventilators an asset.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong collaborator with staff, families, and outside agencies.
- Ability to build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to take a lead in emergent situations and direct others as necessary (remain calm, resourceful, and efficient).
- Able to work independently and as a team player.
- Demonstrated organizational, time management and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated critical thinking skills.
- Flexible and adaptable to changes in the work environment.
Working Conditions
- Monday to Friday workdays with varied start and end times between 7am and 5:30pm.
- Physically able to safely work with objects or persons of varying sizes:
- Handling ~100 lbs occasionally,
- ~50 lbs regularly, and
- ~25 lbs continuously.
- Physical position changes consistently throughout the day (sitting, standing, kneeling).
- Fast paced, noisy environment.
- Work with adaptive equipment and technologies.
- Work outdoors with the children in all types of weather conditions.
- Exposure to:
- cleaning chemicals and products
- needle sharps
- blood and body fluids
Work Schedule 7-5:30 Monday to Friday hours vary