AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) increases health equity by providing highly responsive, harm reduction -based HIV, hepatitis C, substance use, sexual health, mental health, and other community health services, and is informed by the voices of people with living experience. We envision a community where people can experience optimal health and wellness, and be free from stigma, marginalization, and criminalization. For more information see www.avi.org (http://www.avi.org)

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

The AVI Nanaimo Community Health Centre (CHC) hosts a variety of program options for community members and service users to access. work across different programs to provide care and support to service users who have different goals of care across the continuum of health and wellness. The CHC provides primary care, HIV/HCV, substance use, OAT, STBBI, PrEP/PEP medical services, as well as outreach, supports, and social programming for our clients. We also provide education services for the communities we support and for health and social services students and professionals that work with the same communities.
The CHC provides streamlined access to addiction medicine and substance use services while offering a host of complementary supports under one roof including the Enhanced Harm Reduction Service (EHR). Program. The EHR is a flexible, community‐based, nursing led, harm reduction program that will provide pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic street drug supply along with wrap around supports. The EHR program aims to help individuals reduce their risk of dying from a drug poisoning event and our service users may not have sobriety or abstinence included in their goals of care.
Our services are delivered across the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Snaw’naw’as People.
Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centered team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.

JOB SUMMARY:

The HIV/HCV Clinic Nurse will be supporting bloodborne infection, focusing on HIV/HCV prevention, testing and treatment services in our Nanaimo office.
The position entails delivery of preventive clinical services as well as CD/Blood borne infection education, consultation and counseling; CD investigation of individual cases, clusters and outbreaks including reportable blood borne disease, vaccine preventable disease, sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and some enteric and zoonotic disease.
This position works under the direction of the Manager of Nanaimo Health Centre and will work 2 days/week in conjunction with our current sti clinic nurse and LPN.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Registered Nurse in BC registered with BCCNM.
• Experience working with Trans, queer, gender-nonconforming, bi, questioning, and/or gay male identified communities.
• Experience working with structurally vulnerable clients and communities.
• Certification in Reproductive Health with BCCNM preferred.
• 2 years’ recent related community-based experience providing screening, assessment and treatment services to clients at risk and/or living with HIV/AIDS including experience performing HIV tests or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Experience with phlebotomy, immunizations, STI testing, HIV point-of-care testing.
• Transportation of Dangerous goods is an asset to this position.
• Valid BC Drivers License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.
• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Understanding of the psycho-social issues affecting people living with HIV/HCV.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of primary care, substance use, harm reduction, HIV, HCV, sexual health, mental health, and health promotion and impact of systemic poverty.
• Demonstrated commitment to person-centered healthcare service provision.
• Works well under pressure and in stressful situations.
• Capable, independent practitioner and committed team member.
• Excellent communication, conflict resolution and crisis management skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to the policy and practice of harm reduction, cultural safety, and trauma and violence informed practices.
• Ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with participants.
• Ability to observe and recognize subtle changes in participants.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
• Practiced conflict resolution and non-violent crisis intervention skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to use related equipment including computer to complete documentation, data, and reports using Electronic Medical Records.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position and operate related equipment.
• Broad knowledge of harm reduction strategies and interventions in the context of infectious disease, substance use, and the opioid overdose emergency.
• Broad knowledge of other facilities and HIV/AIDS community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze situations, problem solve and facilitate resolutions.
• Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within a multidisciplinary setting.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, take initiative, be flexible, and work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and make nursing practices decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage aggressive and suicidal behavior.
• Demonstrated ability to identify community resources appropriate to client needs.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events.
• Demonstrated de-escalation and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide consultation, leadership and work direction.
• Skilled in the use of equipment, and in the techniques appropriate for treatment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems.
• Conflict resolution and non-violent crisis intervention skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and in stressful situations.

AVI IS COMMITTED TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FROM, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS PERSONS, PERSONS OF COLOUR, RACIALIZED, PERSONS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY, PERSONS WHO USE/D DRUGS, PERSONS WITH EXPERIENCE OF SEX WORK, PERSONS WHO LIVE WITH HIV AND/OR HEPATITIS C, AND PERSONS REPRESENTING DIVERSE GENDERS AND SEXUALITIES.

As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted

• Supports OAT, Primary Care, STBBI, and PrEP clients.
• Provides assessment, support for access to medication, education, and ongoing follow-up for clients.
• Provides assessments, information, education, referrals, and client advocacy regarding OAT, chronic health concerns, and general wellness, including primary and specialist care, diagnostic and laboratory services, and medication adherence.
• Provides systems navigation, advocacy and active referral to housing, disability, mental health and substance use services, nutrition support, and other relevant services.
• Provides Harm Reduction support.
• Participates in multidisciplinary case coordination for clients living with HIV and/or HCV.
• Works to maintain individualized care plans, providing ongoing monitoring and support with clients, in accordance with the care plan.
• Works closely with community partners to ensure seamless support of mutual clients.
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide outreach services to vulnerable/marginalized clients and communities who are at high risk for HIV/AIDS, HCV, blood borne infections.
• Provide frontline primary health care services to clients in the form of immediate assessment, intervention and treatment.
• Provide pre- and post-test counseling for the HIV antibody test, test results and ongoing support and referral to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of HIV/AIDS clients.
• Provide harm reduction education, counseling and support from a nursing perspective on issues relating to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV in non-traditional settings such as gay bars, drop-ins, on the street and other meeting places.
• Distribute harm reduction supplies and collaborate with other community-based agencies to reach populations at high risk for acquiring STIs and HIV.
• Liaise with community-based AIDS organizations or other organizations to plan, develop, implement and deliver preventive HIV/AIDS educational material workshops and programs to targeted groups.
• Identify the health issues, behaviors, needs, barriers and challenges for at-risk populations.
• Work collaboratively in team settings to develop creative strategies to address the challenges and participates in research projects, and surveys as required.