Registered Nurse - Poison Information Specialist

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 197721 
Department/Program: Atlantic Canada Poison Centre, Children's Surgical & Critical Care 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSNU Nursing, Nursing Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $40.5534 - $51.7412 /hour
Closing Date: March 2, 2025 (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. 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 Atlantic Canada Poison Centre (ACPC) provides telephone advice and management on pharmacological and non-pharmacological exposures to the general public as well as health care providers across Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island.

The Specialist in Poison Information (SPI) responsibilities include: Answering and triaging incoming calls, obtaining the history of exposure, assessing the severity of toxicity through judgment, excellent critical thinking skills and interpretation of toxicology references, and transmitting that information in a logical and concise manner; implementing a plan of care based on established guidelines, case specifics, patient care priorities, health care facility resources, and professional judgment in a timely manner; communicating patient information and treatment recommendations as necessary to appropriate health care facilities/providers; evaluating the appropriateness of assessment & recommendations by adhering to established follow-up procedures; Providing initial crisis intervention to callers with other medical or drug problems, or suicidal intentions, with referral to appropriate community agencies; and referring non-medical callers to appropriate agencies in a professional and friendly manner. Assisting with learning and development of new staff and students; developing and participating in research related to poisonings; becoming involved with committee work in the ACPC to support education, quality initiatives and self-scheduling; and working collaboratively with other ACPC staff to accomplish objectives of the Centre.
 

Hours of Work

11.25 hour shifts; 08:00-20:00; 20:00-08:00;12:00-24:00; Rotating Shifts. Schedule varies in accordance with self scheduling guidelines.  Initial 6-week orientation will be 08-16, Mon to Fri.  
 

Your Qualifications

•    Baccalaureate Degree (BScN) required. Candidates with commensurate experience and education may be considered.
•    Current Nova Scotia registration as a Registered Nurse is required.
•     Certified Specialist in Poison Information (cSPI) preferred.
•    Emergency/critical care nursing/poison information experience in a Health Care facility is preferred.
•    Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of people who may have a wide range of educational backgrounds
•    Excellent communication skills including public speaking and writing and presentation skills
•    Strong clinical experience in managing poisoning and overdose patients.
•    Solid understanding of pharmacology; solid understanding of medications, familiarity with common medication calculations (e.g., determining total mg/kg exposures based on patient information and history, doing basic percent calculations, etc.)
•    Ability to work with computers and other computer-related technologies is required.
•    Bilingual in French/English preferred.

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.