Nurse Practitioner, Acute Pain - Halton Healthcare, Milton

About the Role

Halton Healthcare is seeking a dedicated Nurse Practitioner to join the Acute Pain Services and Pre-Admission Clinic team at Milton District Hospital. This pivotal role involves reporting to the Director of Perioperative Services and collaborating with the Chief of Anesthesiology to optimise patients scheduled for surgery. The successful candidate will be instrumental in promoting clinical excellence, delivering quality patient-centred care, and upholding high professional standards within the healthcare environment.

The Nurse Practitioner role at Halton Healthcare blends advanced clinical diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge, skills, and abilities within a nursing framework that prioritises holism, health promotion, and partnership with individuals and families. You will provide leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies to promote health and prevent illness or injury, working closely with inter-professional teams across various surgical specialties including orthopaedics, general surgery, gynaecology, urology, ENT, plastics, and obstetrics.

What You'll Do

• Conduct clinical daily rounds, including pain assessment and management for post-surgical patients and non-surgical acute pain consults, adhering to College of Nurses of Ontario practice standards.
• Work within a collaborative practice model alongside anesthesiologists and other physicians.
• Manage the daily workload of the acute pain service in collaboration with the anesthesiologist.
• Collaborate with clinical nurse educators to provide orientation and ongoing educational support on acute pain service and post-operative pain management to surgical services clinical staff.
• Assist inter-professional teams in implementing care plans to reduce inpatient unit length of stay and engage in strategies to prevent or reduce hospital admissions/readmissions.
• Utilise comprehensive theoretical knowledge and advanced clinical competence to perform and complete history and physicals for pre-admission screening, documenting findings in the medical record.
• Provide consultation regarding the risks and benefits of anaesthetic techniques in collaboration with Anesthesiologists.
• Order and collect data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information, and may order diagnostic procedures and referrals to other specialists when indicated.
• Work with Anesthesiologists to provide comprehensive health assessments and implement care plans.
• Provide health counselling, education, and emotional support in preparation for surgery, including discussing potential complications and health promotion.
• Obtain and document a focused health history, perform a physical examination on patients requiring pain assessment, under the direction of the attending anesthesiologist.
• May be required to assist with pain procedures.
• Provide leadership in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of quality management programs.
• Participate and provide leadership in the strategic planning process for the delivery of medical care.
• Assist with policy development and changes relative to the pain service.
• Support educational initiatives directed at nursing and allied health to promote and provide medical care that meets best practice standards.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of patient education programs.
• Conduct educational teaching sessions with patients and/or families with a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and impact of illness experience.
• Encourage, support, and facilitate the development of researchable questions in clinical practice.
• Participate in quality assurance projects related to pain management.
• Provide consultation internally and externally for clinical practice issues for review with attending anesthesiologist and as per NP scope of practice.

Requirements

• Current registration in the Extended Class, Nurse Practitioner with the College of Nurses of Ontario (with no restrictions) is required.
• Completion of a Master Degree in Nursing is required.
• Membership in specialty related organisations, e.g., NPAO, RNAO, is required.
• Current BCLS is required.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio is required.
• Satisfactory employment and attendance record is required.
• Demonstrated core competencies as described in the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Core Competency Framework.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, colleagues, and other health professionals.
• Ability to identify and create a positive learning environment and develop resources for patients, families, and staff.
• Effectively manage sensitive issues with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
• Facilitate learning and act as a mentor for inter-professional team members.
• Innovative, creative, and professional role model.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritise/organise multiple demands and meet strict deadlines.
• Proven problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to work in a collaborative inter-professional healthcare environment with all members of the health care team.
• Ability to work independently, with individuals and groups effectively.
• Ability to work autonomously under the guidance of an anesthesiologist.
• Advocates for and participates in creating an organisational environment that supports safe client care, collaborative practice, and professional growth.
• Program planning and evaluation methodology skills.
• Participates in quality assurance audits of the acute pain service.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position.
• Demonstrated continual learner.
• Fluent in English (comprehension, reading, writing, and speaking).
• Recent experience with surgical patients or outpatient clinic is preferred.
• Knowledge and clinical expertise in care of the acute post-surgical patients and pain management nursing is preferred.
• Eligibility for cross-appointment to an an academic institution is preferred.
• ACLS is preferred.
• Knowledge of another language is considered an asset.

Our Commitment to You

Halton Healthcare is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We endeavour to hire individuals who exemplify our mission, vision, and values of accountability, respect, and compassion. We are dedicated to integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our operations, policies, and culture. Halton Healthcare also provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities, ensuring equal participation throughout the recruitment and selection process. Join a team passionate about excellence, quality, and patient satisfaction, where professional growth and collaborative practice are supported.