Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health·Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Staff Nurse provides holistic, evidence-based nursing care to youth with mental health disorders and substance abuse issues within an interdisciplinary team. Responsibilities include conducting nursing assessments, developing treatment plans, and acting as a charge nurse on the unit.
Click here to apply as an internal applicant.
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.
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 The Staff Nurse works as an integrated member of the inter-professional team in the planning and provision of care to youth up to the age of 19 who have chronic and persistent mental health disorders with serious/profound functional impairment and/or youth who are harmfully involved with substances and/or gambling, or who may present with concurrent mental health disorders.
The Staff Nurse is responsible and accountable for the application of current theory and practice in the delivery of family-centered nursing care consistent with the philosophy, objectives, mission and vision of the IWK Health Centre.
The Staff Nurse is responsible for the initial and ongoing nursing assessments, participating in the interdisciplinary treatment plan and ensuring the integration of the identified treatment plans on the 24/5 or 24/7 unit.
The Staff Nurse could be reassigned to other Mental Health and Addictions units as operationally required.
The Registered Nurse (RN) is a member of an interdisciplinary care team, providing holistic, comprehensive evidenced-based care to meet the needs of individuals, families and/or communities.
The RN provides leadership in nursing assessment, and the planning, implementation and evaluation of patient/family care for the purpose of promoting, maintaining or restoring health, preventing illness, injury and disability.
The RN will be in a position of charge on the unit and responsible as such.
The RN builds professional relationships with other nurses and health team members to support the work of a strong inter-professional team and provision of quality patient/family care.
The RN ensures the goals and needs of the patients and families are prioritized and individualized, using nursing knowledge, critical thinking and clinical judgment.
The RN engages in independent, interdependent and dependent functions to provide healthcare focusing on comprehensive assessment, patient/family education, teaching and coordination of care.
The RN practices according to the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia Standards of Nursing Practice, specialty standards as applicable and the policies and procedures of the IWK.Hours of Work Shift Work, 7.5 and/or 11.25 hour shifts; Monday-Friday, and Weekends and Holidays; Days, Nights and Evenings.Your Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required.
Candidates with commensurate experience and education will be considered.
Licensed or eligible for licensure by the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (NSNMR) Current successful completion of CPR Level-C Health Care Provider or Basic Life Support (BLS) course within the last 12 months required.
Previous psychiatric nursing experience required.
Previous experience with adolescent substance abuse preferred.
Knowledge of harm reduction approach and Best Practice modalities for substance abuse and/or concurrent disorders preferred.
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention certification an asset.
CNA Certification in Mental Health an asset.
Ability to support/co-facilitate psychoeducational, psycho-therapeutic, life skills and recreation therapy evidence based groups preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to Family Centred Care required.
Demonstrated inter-professional teamwork, time management, prioritization, communication (verbal and written), leadership, critical thinking, organizational and interpersonal skills required.
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of an inter-professional team required.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with families and other health care team members.
Demonstrated commitment to professional development and practice required.
Valid Class 5 driver’s license and willingness to drive program van as required.
Competencies in other languages 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.
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and be licensed or eligible for licensure by the NSNMR. Previous psychiatric nursing experience is required, along with current CPR/BLS certification.
Market context
Nursing support roles in Nova Scotia are often in steady demand because care settings need reliable coverage across shifts and locations. These roles are competitive when employers look for a Canadian PSW, DSW, or Health Care Aid certificate, or a nursing student or graduate, plus current Vulnerable Sector Police check, BLS/CPR, and up-to-date vaccinations. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your documents and certifications before applying.