At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide mental health nursing care to Canadian Armed Forces members and supported populations.
- Company: Join the Canadian Armed Forces and be part of a dedicated healthcare team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, training opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Flexible part-time options available in the Reserve Force.
- Why this job: Impact lives while working in diverse environments, including overseas operations.
- Qualifications: Must be a Registered Nurse with experience in mental health.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 $ per year.
As a member of the military, Mental Health Nursing Officers provide nursing care in the mental health nursing domain of practice to ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and supported populations in tertiary and primary care environments in Canada and while on operation. Mental Health Nursing Officers work within a collaborative practice model with other members of the health care team and lead the nursing care delivery within their area of practice.
Mental Health Nursing Officers have the opportunity to work in different domains of nursing practice including:
- Patient partnered care
- Crisis management
- Case coordination
- Consulting services
- Policy and Program management
- Education and Training
Work environment: Mental Health Nursing Officers usually work in Canadian Force Health Services Centres, civilian tertiary care centres and Headquarters. They work in an office at a base, wing or garrison and deploy overseas on operational missions. During field exercises and deployments to military operations abroad, Mental Health Nursing Officers live and work in the same environment as the CAF members they treat.
If you choose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can't always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part-time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.
Entry plans: Direct Entry Options and In-Service Selection. Nursing Officers who joined the occupation through any entry plan have the opportunity, upon selection, to further specialize as a Mental Health Nursing Officer and progress in jobs and ranks of increasing responsibility. If you already have a university degree and license to practice as a Registered Nurse in a Canadian province or territory and civilian nursing experience in a mental health environment, the CAF may place you directly into a Mental Health Nursing Officer job after evaluation of your experience. You will have to complete some education and certification to complement your civilian experience.
Training: After completing the Rank Qualification Lieutenant training, Nursing Officers selected for specialization or who have civilian experience within a mental health/psychosocial services environment are required to complete a formal mental health nursing course and a certification to ensure they have the clinical competencies required to deliver nursing care in a general mental health and psychiatric emergency setting. The certification is completed in a Canadian civilian tertiary care facility and at Canadian Forces Health Services Centres through completion of a designated curriculum. The course completion and length of the certification depends on each Nursing Officer’s level of previous clinical experience.
Part-time options: Reserve Force Mental Health Nursing Officers are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. Your civilian experience will have to reflect an employment in a mental health environment.
Related Careers: Nursing Officer, Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist (Medical Specialist).
Mental Health Nursing Officer employer: Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) offers an exceptional opportunity for aspiring Pilots to embark on a rewarding career that not only enhances national security but also contributes to humanitarian efforts. With a strong emphasis on professional development, the CAF provides comprehensive training and a supportive work culture that fosters teamwork and camaraderie among its members. Located in Ontario, you will be part of a prestigious organization that values integrity, excellence, and service, ensuring that your role as a Pilot is both meaningful and impactful.
Contact Details:
Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes Recruitment Team
