Medical Services jobs in Victoria, BC

Job Summary

The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) Registered Nurse (RN) provides culturally safe, full-scope primary health care to the urban Indigenous community living in Southern Vancouver Island. The RN, reporting the VNFC Director of Wellness, works with an interdisciplinary care team at the Camas Lelum Primary Care Centre to provide longitudinal primary health care to Indigenous community of all ages. The RN works independently and as part of the team to provide care that honours the culture of all community members, and actively supports connection to both Western and Indigenous knowledge and practice.

Roles and Responsibilities

As a Registered Nurse, job duties include the following:

• Works within the RN scope of practice to provide safe and effective primary care to Indigenous community of all ages with a range of acute and chronic health needs. Able to independently conduct an initial assessment and determine if care falls within RN scope or requires collaboration with other team members and provides care as appropriate.
• Care activities include nursing assessment, chronic disease management (CDM), health promotion and CDM prevention, health education, vaccinations, sexual health within scope for Certified Practice, wound care, basic mental health and substance use care, health planning and coordination of care, advanced care planning and other care within scope as needed.
• Collaborate with clients and their families to access external health resources including hospitals, specialized clinics, social service agencies, Community Health Services, First Nations Health Authority, First Nations, mental health services, and other partners as needed.
• Provides care in-person at Camas Lelum, at First Nations, the VNFC or other outreach locations as needed. Provides care over the phone or through virtual visits as needed.
• Conducts accurate and timely documentation in the Electronic Medical Record in accordance with college standards and in support of safe and effective team-based care.
• Collaborates effectively with other members of the interdisciplinary team at the VNFC including Nurse Practitioners, physicians, medical office assistants, mental health and substance support, Registered Clinical Counselor, Indigenous Wellness Providers, and others required.
• Supports and leads health promotion programming for community members either independently or as part of the interdisciplinary team. This includes organizing and facilitating group health promotion programming using Western and Indigenous teachings.
• Mentor nursing students with clinical placements or projects at the VNFC.
• Participate in the development of policy and standards of care in order to support ongoing quality assurance and improvement.
• Maintain confidentiality
• Document and report activity in alignment with VNFC practices and supports internal and external reporting as required
• Attend relevant professional training and meetings when directed
• Participate in staff development, staff meetings and department meetings as required, including community and cultural events
• Participate in data collection and evaluation tasks as requested

Knowledge and Skills

• Familiarity and experience in Indigenous Communities
• Some knowledge of Indigenous cultures and practices including from the territory in which the work of VNFC takes place. Ability to speak about one’s own Indigenous culture, if applicable, and any communities the (prospective) employee has previously lived in or held jobs within.
• In-depth knowledge of the experience of Indigenous peoples in Canada including the ongoing processes of colonization, discrimination, and structural violence, and the effects on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities; understanding of the wellness and healing capacities of Indigenous cultural resiliency and resurgence.
• Knowledge and practice of providing community- based services to Indigenous peoples using philosophies of cultural humility and cultural safety.

Communication Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to successfully develop and maintain relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients and the general public
• Ability to read, process and integrate findings into practice from a range of resources including peer-reviewed literature and governmental reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 including Word, Excel, and Outlook

Leadership Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work independently and be part of an integrated community team and in partnership with a variety of agencies.
• Ability to multi-task while remaining composed and maintaining a professional attitude in high stress situations.

Program Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to practice using philosophies of cultural safety and humility, harm reduction, and trauma informed care.
• Knowledge and ability to work ethically and maintain professional boundaries when working with vulnerable clients.
• Ability to spend a major portion of the workday standing, walking and/or sitting as well as Qualifications

Education

• Registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives as a practicing RN registran
• Certified Practice for Reproductive Health (Sexually Transmitted Infections) preferred or received within 6 months of employment
• Recognized course(s) in cultural safety and humility or equivalent life and/or professional experience

Work Experience

• Minimum two years (2) recent clinical nursing experience in related clinical areas including assessing and treating infants, children, youth, adults, and seniors in a primary care setting, community setting, outpatient setting, or public health; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Preference for past experience working in an Indigenous-serving organization or community nonprofit setting.

Licenses and/or Certificates

• Valid BC Driver’s license
• Clean Driver’s record
• Basic Life Support Level C
• Must provide a current (within 6 mos.) Attorney General Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check

VNFC is an Indigenous nonprofit organization dedicated to providing culturally responsive programs and services to urban Indigenous populations.

Preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to self-identify in their application.

This preference reflects our commitment to strengthening Indigenous representation within our workforce and supporting the delivery of culturally relevant, community-informed services to the Indigenous people and communities we serve.