The Registered Nurse is responsible for the assessment and treatment planning of acutely ill patients under 19 with various psychiatric disorders. They maintain a therapeutic milieu and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to provide care for children and youth.
Requirements summary
A Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and registration with the Nova Scotia College of Nursing are required. Candidates must have current BLS certification, with previous psychiatric and acute inpatient experience preferred.
June 26, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region.
We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia.
People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities.
We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes.
We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs.
We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us.
We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization.
There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years.
We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country.
Benefits
Wellness Programs
Training And Mentorship Opportunities
Enhanced Benefits
Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country.
We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face.
We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer.
We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.The Opportunity Reporting to the Manager of the Garron Centre for Child & Adolescent Mental Health, the Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for assessment and treatment planning for acutely ill patients under the age of 19 years presenting with a variety of psychiatric disorders.
Nurses will work with patients with eating disorders, major mood disturbances, psychosis, debilitating anxiety disorders and as yet undiagnosed but serious emotional and behavioural dysregulation.
The RN plays a significant role in assessment, providing programs, keeping patients safe, calming agitation, and maintaining a therapeutic milieu on the unit.
The RN will be trained to complete psychiatric assessments with Emergency Mental Health and Addiction Service (EMHAS) (once they have two years of MHA experience) as well as charge nurse and preceptor training on the Garron Centre (once they have one year of Garron Centre experience).
This is the only dedicated psychiatric inpatient unit in the province for children and adolescents.
The unit has a full inter-disciplinary team consisting of nursing, psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, social work, and teaching staff.
This team works collaboratively on the interdisciplinary care plan for each child, youth and family.
Most (90% +) of the admissions to this unit come through emergency.
Key to success in this position is the RN’s application of specialized knowledge gained through education and experience in mental health/psychiatric populations in order to maximize scope of practice for mental health nurses.
Hours of Work 11.25-hour shifts, full rotational schedule (days, evenings, nights, and weekends).
Your Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required (candidates with commensurate experience and education will be considered).
Registered, or eligible to be registered, with the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) required.
CNA Certification in Mental Health Nursing and/or RNPDC Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Program an asset.
Current successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support Level (BLS) Program within the last 12 months, or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate, required.
Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to Family Centred Care.
Demonstrated time management, communication (verbal and written), and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with families and other health care team members.
Demonstrated commitment to professional development and skills.
Demonstrated flexibility with proven, excellent organizational skills.
Competency in other languages considered an asset.
Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Nursing bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
More openings at Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health
