Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) is located in the City of Orillia - a beautiful community nestled along the shores of Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. Orillia offers an environment where a health work/life balance is easy to achieve as exceptional urban amenities, natural resources, points of interest, and recreational opportunities abound.

People have always been OSMH’s greatest strength. Our committed team has helped our community for over a century. We offer an environment where each individual works interdependently towards common goals: we value Trust, Courage and Teamwork. We are an organization where individuals’ contributions are valued and there are many opportunities for personal growth and development.

Position Summary

POSITION SUMMARY:
The GEM Nurse will provide comprehensive, specialized and advanced care for older adults/caregivers presenting in the Emergency Department. The GEM Nurse will practice as part of an interprofessional team providing consultative services and direct care. The individual will work in collaboration with colleagues within and outside the department to advance geriatric best practices by implementing leading practices, promoting innovative approaches to care delivery and building team capacity through coaching and mentoring. The GEM Nurse will support the completion of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments in alignment with the CGA core competency framework, promoting excellence in the nursing care of older adults/caregivers. The GEM Nurse will work with patients/caregivers as well as with partners within and outside the organization to meet patient/caregiver needs to achieve safe and successful transitions.


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Functional Role:
• Provide clinical nursing consultation to health care professionals and older adults/caregivers in the Emergency Department regarding geriatric health issues:
o Compiles available information and, as relevant/available/appropriate, collects additional clinical history and collaborating information
o Identifies and summarizes both recognized and unrecognized clinical, functional, cognitive, social issues and/or risk issues
o Assesses, plans and, where appropriate/possible, implements and evaluates the care of older adults with complex geriatric health issues
o Facilitates client-centred care goal setting
o Assesses the coping strengths and supports of older adults/caregivers and plans appropriate interventions to meet needs and optimize abilities
o Contributes to the development of a collaborative management plan from a geriatric nursing perspective
o Collaborates with members of the interprofessional team to assist with discharge planning and transitions, including linking with key internal and external partners as appropriate
o Provides linkages to specialized geriatric services (geriatric medicine services and geriatric mental health teams)
o Advocates on behalf of older adults and their caregivers
o Consults patients in home to assist in emergency department avoidance if needed
• Advances organization capacity, safety and partnerships related to the care of older adults/caregivers:
o Identifies and implements GEM leading practices to support the screening, assessment and management of high-risk geriatric patients
o Plays an active role in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives related to older adults/caregivers
o Improves continuity of service through communication, promoting interprofessional practice and collaboration
o Builds capacity through education, coaching and mentoring to increase awareness and knowledge to better manage geriatric issues in the organization
o Role models of senior friendly care (Senior Friendly Care) principles and strategies
o As appropriate, participates in Couchiching region planning related to the care of older adults/caregivers
o Participates in regional and other relevant GEM networks

Specific Roles:
• Provides leadership in programming and education to advance care initiatives (i.e. falls program, 3 “D” program, GPA program)
• Provides formal and informal educational opportunities to staff on care of older adults and their caregivers within the hospital to facilitate a cultural change in how we care for this unique group of patients (i.e. lunch and learn, at the bedside teaching)
• Liaison and collaborates with all members of the interprofessional team to provide a complete and focused approach to the patients from admission to discharge
• Key role in process changes reflective of Senior Friendly Hospital Strategy.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
• Registration with CNO as a Registered nurse,
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Master’s Degree in Nursing or a related health care field, completed, or near completion preferred
• Gerontological Nursing Certification required (CNA)
• BCLS required

Experience & Qualifications:
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience with acute geriatric patients required, with experience working in a specialized geriatric services team considered an asset.
• Experience in Emergency Services considered an asset
• Clinical expertise in geriatric assessment, management and care, with experience completing Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to build capacity building by successfully coaching and mentoring patients, caregivers, colleagues and health system partners.
• Experience in a leadership role and familiar with adult learning strategies will be an asset to this position
• Proven interpersonal, teamwork and conflict resolution skills
• Results oriented work ethic to work independently and undertake tasks needed to accomplish work objectives and deliver quality, consistent and timely results
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Areas of Expertise / Core Competencies:
• Core Clinical Geriatric Knowledge, including: Falls and mobility, Dementia, Depression, Delirium, Cognitive impairment, Neglect and Abuse, Responsive Behaviours, Weight loss, Incontinence, Skin and wound, Frailty, Functional Decline, Mental Health, Polypharmacy, Pain Management, Decision making capacity, Caregiver Stress
• Geriatric Screening, Assessment and Risk Identification
• Analysis and interpretation of assessment and data findings
• Care Planning and Intervention
• Collaborative Interprofessional Practice
• Healthcare promotion in the community setting

Other:
• Demonstrates commitment to continued professional and personal growth and development through Continuing Education Programs and Self Directed Learning Opportunities

Are you a New Graduate with outstanding student loans? OSMH is located in a community designated for Canada Student Loan forgiveness. You may be eligible for Canada Student Loan forgiveness if you meet other eligibility requirements. Please click here for more information.

Our Employees Enjoy

• a professional practice environment
• a collaborative atmosphere with emphasis on teamwork
• wellness initiatives
• continuing education grants
• employee recognition and assistance programs
• a competitive salary and benefits package
• equal opportunities for growth and development

Employment Equity

OSMH is committed to diversity and equity in the workplace and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S persons and others who may contribute to a diverse workplace.

Accomodation in the Workplace

Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity, equal opportunity and maintaining a barrier-free selection process for job applicants. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the requirements for the open position. Applicants need to make their requirements known to the Human Resources department when contacted. All requests are handled confidentially.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

OSMH is committed to providing a safe, healthy and supportive working environment by treating team members and patients with compassion accountability respect and engagement.

All team members must adhere to OSMH’s Occupational Health and Safety policies, procedures and protocols, as well as the duties of workers as stipulated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Team members must be able to perform all bona fide and essential duties of the position which may include cognitive and physical demands.

As a condition of employment, new employees are required to complete an employment health assessment and must be cleared by the Occupational Health and Safety Team prior to orientation.

As a condition of employment, you are required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination to the Hospital's Occupational Health and Safety department.

OSMH is a minimal fragrance workplace. We kindly ask all applicants to refrain from using scented products should they have the occasion to interview with the hospital. As a condition of employment OSMH requires professional references, verification of academic training, professional accreditation and evidence of course completion. It is also a condition of employment that all new employees will be required to present an original vulnerable sector check within 90 days of commencing employment and must sign an Offense Declaration upon receipt of an offer of employment.

If you are interested in joining our team, please apply online before 11:59 pm on the posting close date. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. We thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.