The Territorial Health and Social Services Authority (THSSA) works under the direction of the Minister of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the Deputy Minister, Health and Social Services and the Health and Social Services regions, to support the health and wellbeing of people across the Northwest Territories through planning, development, deliver, evaluation and reporting on program and service delivery. 

NTHSSA is committed to the development and provision of quality services in such a way as to make the best use of public resources, ensure the sustainability of the system, focus on client safety and best practices and promote positive health and social outcomes. THSSA strives to continually improve the health and social service system to ensure best health, best care, and a better future for the people of the NWT.

Our mission is to work with people to optimize wellbeing through the provision of collaborative and culturally appropriate health and social services.

There are 3 positions located in Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and Deline, Northwest Territories and the incumbents reports  directly to the Nurse in Charge (NIC), the Community Health Nurse (CHN), delivers core community health services. 

Community Health Services include providing non-emergency medical care; responding to medical emergencies, within & outside the community, that may require decision making outside of the usual policies, procedures and standards of community health nursing care; and deliver core community health programs designed to promote community health and wellness (i.e. including but not limited to Well-Child/Adult clinics, pre and post-natal clinics, school health program, chronic disease clinic (non-communicable disease), immunization programs, communicable disease surveillance, treatment (emergency & sick clinic), and Home Care. The provisions of critical incident services are supported by other CHN's/NIC and physician/NP over the telephone or in person, with further assistance of other health centre staff Promotion & Health Prevention Worker; Mental Health and Addictions Counselor; Child Protection Worker, Home Support Worker.

Services may be provided within the Health Centre, via Tele-health, at the community hall, schools or client's home (i.e. Home Care) and are intended to promote a healthy lifestyle, and a decrease in the incidence of disease, injury, and death. Services may be provided on an individual basis or as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The CHN is a member of the Primary Community Care Team (PCCT), as per the Integrated Service Delivery Model (ISDM).

The CHN/ NIC will be required to provide on-call coverage, on a rotational basis, during the evening and weekends to provide emergency nursing care. Nurses also provide emergency transportation as per policy within the community.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• The CHN must have a working knowledge of and an ability to apply and assess the nursing process (assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation) and current nursing practice (community health nursing, including public health and home care) to ensure that the client's physical, emotional, psychosocial, spiritual and educational needs are met.
• Knowledge of biological, physical and behavioral sciences in order to  recognize, interpret, and  prioritize  findings;  and  determine  and  implement  a plan  of  care based on accepted  standards of practice, in the GNWT Dept. of Health.
• The CHN must have an ability to provide emergency care and treatment as the position is required to perform transferred health functions beyond normal hospital training. This includes an ability to perform advanced nursing functions such as  but  not limited to: suturing, vena-puncture for all age groups and immunization techniques.
• A knowledge of and an ability to apply sanctioned transferable medical functions as outlined in the Nursing  Administration  Manual's  standards,  policies  and  guidelines (i.e. pap smears).
• An ability to operate and/or use standard medical equipment (such as but not limited to - ECG, peripheral IV pumps and lines, stretchers, thermometers, NG tubes, sphygmomanometer, blood glucose monitors, suction tubes, sharps, pulse oximeter, x­ ray machine, etc.).
• An understanding of and  an  ability to perform  basic  laboratory  functions  such as but not limited to: ESR,  HGB,  blood  smears,  pregnancy  tests,  various  swab  specimens, the preparation of specimens for culture and sensitivity, ECGs and quality control of laboratory machinery, in accordance to Canadian Laboratory Standards.
• An ability to perform radiological examinations (X-rays) of the chest and extremities and transmit for reading via Di-Pacs computerization.
• An ability to apply and remove casts or splints, emergency stabilization equipment.
• Knowledge of and ability to operate computer applications (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel and electronic medical records) in order to  complete  training  materials  and presentations,  electronic  GNWT  email,  scheduling  of  appointments  and  maintenance of health records (iEHR and EMR, Di-Pacs), Share Point NTHSSA for internal messages, forms, links, and the internet in order to conduct on-line research and People Soft (employment  records).
• An ability to educate clients and their families (where applicable) on appropriate self­ care methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of and an ability to  network  resources  within  and  outside  the  NTHSSA (i.e. Social Services, Public Health, medevac teams etc.) in order to ensure support of clients and their families.
• The incumbent must be aware of the importance of confidentiality and be able to keep personal and medical information private and confidential at all times and in accordance to Access to Information Legislation & Public Health, WSCC, etc. mandatory reporting.

Typically. the above qualifications would be attained by:

A  Degree  in  Nursing,  2 years  of recent  nursing  experience  with  one year  in  a Community Health Centre, as a Community Health Nurse.

Equivalency Knowledge & Experience: Registered Nurse Diploma Program, 4 years of recent nursing experience with one year in a Community Health Centre, as  a  Community  Health Nurse.

Recent nursing experience is define as a total of full time hours in the past 5 years

Community Health Centre is define in the NWT as a level A, B or B/C facility or equivalency for other provinces and territories

Inquiries Only:

Health Recruitment
Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE 5TH FLOOR  
BOX 1320 YELLOWKNIFE NT X1A 2L9
Tel (867) 767-9154 Extension 14106
Fax (867) 873-0445
hlthss_recruitment@gov.nt.ca

Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.