Public Health Nurse in Abbotsford

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of nearly 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

We are currently looking to fill a Casual opportunity for a Public Health Nurse to cover multiple cities (Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission). Joining the Fraser Health team offers you opportunities to work in a rapidly growing organization with health professionals who are excellent in their respective fields, career growth and advancement, a competitive compensation package (including four weeks of vacation to start, comprehensive health benefits, and pension plan), and the rewarding opportunity to make a difference every single day in health care.

Fraser Health values diversity in the workforce and strives to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring and Trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Responsibilities:

• Immunizes children and adults against vaccine preventable disease.
• Applies epidemiological principles and knowledge of disease process to investigate and follow up on communicable diseases (including outbreak management) in accordance with established policies and protocols.
• Provides client prenatal/postnatal/family assessments, counseling, service coordination, follow-up, support and referral to promote healthy child development, effective parenting practices and early identification of developmental concerns.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary/intersectoral teams, provides formal presentations and educational programs for selected population groups, and offers health information, counseling and referral related to lifestyle issues, cultural and language barriers, school health, reproductive health, chronic disease prevention and safety/injury prevention via various modes of contact.
• Promotes behavior change to a healthy lifestyle and encourages personal responsibility for health.
• Applies the community development process to assist community members’ involvement in planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating activities and services to address identified health needs and strengths.
• Establishes effective working relationships and partnerships with other professionals, community members and agencies; informs about positive social and environmental change including quality of life, wellness and disease/injury prevention; advocates for healthy public policy and services.
• Maintains related records; documents observations, interventions and outcomes; collects statistics; prepares reports as required, and in accordance with established standards and procedures.
• Contributes to quality of program and practice by identifying needs, issues, and solutions through interdisciplinary teams and community involvement; participates in organizational planning processes based on determinants of health and best practice literature.
• Provides preceptorship and mentorship experiences for nursing students; participates in orientation and mentoring of new health professionals.
• Participates in research studies, surveys, and focus groups as needed for improved service.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Graduation from an approved school of nursing including a public health nursing component.
• Six (6) months recent, relevant Public Health nursing experience or one year’s recent nursing experience in Maternal/Infant/Child or successfully meets FH New Grad requirements with successful completion of final practicum/Co-op in Public Health.
• Valid Class V B.C. Driver's licence and access to a personal vehicle for business-related purposes.

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Public Health Nursing Discipline Specific Competencies.
• Knowledge of epidemiology, family health, health promotion and community development.
• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate.
• Ability to organize and problem-solve.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated teaching skills.
• Ability to work with individuals, groups and professionals within a multi-disciplinary environment in a diverse community.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to operate related equipment, including personal computers and related software.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. We are home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region. Our team includes 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers. We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the workforce, striving to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust.