Job Details: Emergency Response Mental Health Nurse

Company: Interior Health – We want our patients to have the best possible care and that means we need the best possible people.

Description: Facility: Salmon Arm Health Ctr
Dept: Adult Program, Mental Health
Bargaining Unit: BCNU - UPN
Hourly Wage: $27.17 - $35.67
Welcome to Interior Health. We are all about giving people room to grow, room to contribute, room to impact, room to make a significant, personal contribution and room to make a huge difference in the lives of others. For a challenging, growth-oriented career in a beautiful natural setting where balanced lifestyle choices abound, come to Interior Health and help us in our quest to set new standards of excellence in the delivery of health services in the Province of BC.

Summary:

Under the administrative and functional direction of the Mental Health Centre's Adult Program Manager and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the Emergency Response Mental Health Nurse provides intake assessment; short-term treatment, urgent response and crisis intervention to adults who are experiencing serious emotional, behavioural, psychological and/or psychiatric illnesses; serves the adult population experiencing acute mental health disorder or impairment; provides clinical input to ASTAT, ACSS and Elderly Services team program planning and development, including community liaison; maintains required written reports and other related duties; collaborative planning; psycho-education with clients and their families; liaison with appropriate professionals; and may provide brief (1 to 3 sessions) of cognitive behavioural or solution focused therapy.

Qualifications:

- Graduation from an approved School of Nursing, formal education/training in acute mental health nursing, and a minimum of one
years' recent related experience in a multidisciplinary acute psychiatry setting including experience in Emergency/Crisis Intervention
and rapid assessment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Current practicing registration with the College of Registered Nurses' of BC (CRNBC) or the College of Registered Psychiatric
Nurses' of BC (CRPNBC).
- Current valid BC Driver's License.

Skills and abilities:
- Comprehensive knowledge of DSM IV and treatment of major mental illness
- Knowledge of family dynamics and family systems theory, crisis intervention, and the full continuum of services available to
persons with mental illness.
- Knowledge of the development stages of an individual within the family life cycle and the related psychosocial issues that many
occur.
- Ability to assess high risk factors associated with hospitalization, acute psychiatric illness, and the strengths, abilities, and
resources of clients and their families.
- Ability to make timely, effective referrals, reflecting in-depth knowledge of community resources and strong collaborative skills in
working with a wide range of services, agencies and authorities.
- Good working knowledge of British Columbia Mental Health Act.
- Knowledge of pharmacological treatments.

Posting Date: Jul 27 07