Come work as a Mental Health Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), and you may be eligible for a financial recruitment incentive of up to $15,000. Incentives are time limited and conditions apply. Apply today to speak to a Talent Acquisition Advisor!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Mental Health Nurse (RN/RPN) to join the Strathcona Mental Health Team at Heatley Community Health Centre in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team!

The Vancouver Community Adult Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) teams support adults 19 years of age and older with moderate to severe mental health, substance use, and concurrent mental health and substance use disorders or conditions. This program is designed to be neighbourhood-based and works as an inter-disciplinary team to encourage collaboration and partnerships with local community services, including family physicians and other care providers. 

As a Mental Health Nurse with VCH, you will:

• Provide individualized direct nursing care and brokerage services to a wide range of clients with severe and persistent mental illness, concurrent disorders and/or dementia and be responsible for the full range of clinical practice and the client-centred rehabilitation program by working independently and as a member of a team.
• Enhance the quality of life of the client/family.
• Perform physical and psychosocial rehabilitation assessments.
• Consult, confer and collaborate with other health care givers and family members to develop, implement, evaluate and modify individualized strength-based treatment plan.
• Establish, maintain and enhance therapeutic relationships based on respect.
• Administer prescribed medicines, monitor client response and demonstrate and provide ongoing information to the client/family on activities of daily living, use of medication and side-effects and integration of illness to their lifestyle.
• Prepare and maintain client records according to established standards.
• Participate in team meetings, engage in team planning and quality improvement activities and maintain and update your own knowledge.

Education & Experience

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Diploma in Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing plus two (2) years’ recent related experience working with individuals with severe and persistent psychiatric illness or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid BC Driver’s license and local area travel may require the use of a vehicle, as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of a client and family centered recovery model in mental illness.
• Knowledge of concurrent disorders.
• Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation methodology.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act as it applies to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Knowledge of community, social and mental health resources.
• Ability to identify emotional, social, or environmental barriers and intervene to eliminate stigma.
• Ability to effectively manage conflict situations and aggressive behaviour and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with clients, families, team members, other groups and community agency personnel.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care.
• Demonstrated ability in nursing practice related to assessment of behaviour and to assisting clients to regain or improve their coping abilities, and to prevent further disability.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and co-lead group sessions.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and implement care plans.
• Demonstrated ability to assess client responses to care, and to respond appropriately.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to unexpected events, problem-solve and set priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in the development and delivery of educational programs and materials for clients and families based on education theories, principles and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to counsel and teach clients and their families.
• Demonstrated ability to model and mentor new staff and students.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership through initiative and independence.
• Demonstrated skill in clinical techniques and the use of applicable equipment and supplies.
• Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques.
• Demonstrated physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet and e-mail software.

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes. Successful applicants may be required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.