Geriatric Nurse Clinician - Abbotsford

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations.

Our team of nearly 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

We are currently looking for individuals interested in working casual as Geriatric Nurse Clinician at Abbotsford Regional Hospital & Cancer Centre, located in Abbotsford BC.

Fraser Health values diversity in the work force and strives to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring and Trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable, and culturally safe manner.

Effective October 26, 2021 all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines).  Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

In accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) standards of practice and the Mission and Values of Fraser Health, the Geriatric Nurse Clinician utilizes evidence-informed practice to provide consultation and clinical expertise related to acutely ill older adults who present to Emergency, who are admitted to medical/surgical areas, or who are referred to specialized clinics. Role models direct care skills to staff and students, performs gerontological nursing assessments and ongoing evaluation of older adults with complex care needs, and provides information and education to staff and/or patients/families. Participates in research, policy, quality improvement, and risk management activities. The Nurse Clinician performs their duties with a unit, hospital, program and/or regional focus and may be required to work at multiple sites across Fraser Health.

1. Demonstrates expertise and provides clinical leadership in evidence-informed practice related to acutely ill older adults; reviews literature, consults with experts, collaborates with members of the interprofessional team, evaluates clinical practice, recommends changes to existing standards to the Manager, and participates on regional and provincial committees related to care for older adults.
2. Role models direct patient care skills to staff and students related to older adults and provides just in time education at the point of care required to ensure optimal care to acutely ill older adults.  Coaches, mentors and provides information utilizing clinical evidence, policy (e.g. clinical decision support tools), literature and resources, and education theory.
3. Performs comprehensive gerontological nursing assessment to older adults who present or who are admitted with complex care needs; recognizes the altered presentation of acute conditions in older adults, intervenes as needed, and evaluates outcomes of these interventions.  Collaborates with the interprofessional team to develop/support development of individualized care plans, ongoing evaluation of the care plan, the appropriate and timely discharge and/or transfer of patients home or to alternate care settings, rapid referral to Geriatricians, and the coordination of referrals and linkages to appropriate community resources including Older Adult programs such as the Specialized Seniors Clinics.
4. Determines education requirements that meet clinical and learner needs, in collaboration with the Manager/Director/Clinical Nurse Educator/Clinical Nurse Specialist; completes learning needs assessments of individuals or groups to assist in the determination of the learning requirements and their objectives. 
5. Arranges and/or provides preceptorships and mentorships for staff and students regarding older adult health care, as appropriate.
6. Develops and revises education tools/plans on the basis of identified learner needs, chart audits, patient outcomes, and introduction of new/revised clinical decision support tools or scope(s) of practice/roles/functions.
7. Plans and schedules education activities and maintains a system for tracking attendance; maintains related statistics.
8. Delivers learner-centered education to individuals or groups of staff and patient/families through methods such as coaching, conducting presentations, facilitating groups, and providing lectures.
9. Evaluates effectiveness of education programs and consultations to ensure older adult care/learning needs are met and to determine opportunities for improvement; maintains related reports.
10. Collaborates with other practice leaders to provide leadership, consultation and performance support to clinical staff, employed student nurses and students to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care.
11. Supports staff to plan and carry out patient/family education about discharge planning, illness prevention and health promotion.
12. Participates in quality improvement and risk management activities by methods such as evaluating effect of changes in practice, making recommendations to improve current practices, and conducting quality and safety audits.
13. Participates in research and special projects; promotes staff awareness and involvement in research activities.
14. Assists the Manager/Director by attending panel interviews, providing recommendations on the selection of new staff, and providing feedback on optimal use of budgetary resources as requested, including recommending use of related products that help meet patient goals.
15. Assists the Manager/Director in assessing and supporting clinical skill and performance, as related to older adult care, by providing related input and coaching staff to help them achieve established clinical performance goals.
16. Participates in the review, development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-informed clinical decision support tools/policies.
17. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

Three (3) years of recent related clinical experience in acute gerontological nursing including one (1) year of education and/or leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Completion of post graduate course work and/or certification applicable to gerontological nursing (Canadian Nurses Association Gerontology Nursing Certificate).

Valid BC Driver's Licence and access to a personal vehicle for business related purposes.

Skills and Abilities

• Clinical proficiency/expertise in acute gerontological nursing.
• Ability to role model direct care skills, coach, mentor and teach nursing skills that are compliant with current standards of practice and that ensure quality of care.
• Ability to apply educational theories and evidence to teaching practices.
• Ability to identify learning needs of individual or groups of staff.
• Ability to foster effective teaching and learning relationships.
• Ability to facilitate learning and create effective learning environments.
• Ability to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders in preparing appropriate learner environments.
• Ability to develop and utilize appropriate practice assessment tools.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently in an organized and self directed manner.
• Ability to problem-solve and effectively deal with conflict situations.
• Ability to conceptualize teaching from a unit to regional focus.
• Knowledge of research processes and methodology.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.