IPAC Registered Nurse (RFT 1.0 FTE)

About The Royal

As one of Canada's foremost mental health care and academic health science centres, The Royal has a clear purpose: to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. This is at the core of everything we do and it is driven by the passion, focus and dedication of our employees. Every day, the work that we do transforms the lives of people with mental illness through specialized mental healthcare, advocacy, research and education.

About the Position

This full-time position combines two complementary roles: 0.5 FTE as the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Registered Nurse and 0.5 FTE as a Resource Registered Nurse in the Long Term Care home.

As the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Registered Nurse provides clinical leadership in the development, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement of the home's Infection Prevention and Control Program. The IPAC RN works collaboratively with leadership, physicians, residents, families and interdisciplinary teams to prevent, monitor and control infections, ensuring compliance with provincial legislation, Public Health guidance and evidence-based best practices. The IPAC RN serves as the clinical expert and resource for infection prevention, surveillance, outbreak management, education and quality improvement initiatives.

As the Resource RN, provides direct nursing care and clinical support across the home, responding to resident needs and acting as a clinical resource to the care team. Working in both roles allows you to apply infection prevention expertise at the point of care.

Duties

IPAC Registered Nurse (0.5 FTE)

• Leads and maintains the home's Infection Prevention and Control Program in accordance with the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, Ministry of Long-Term Care requirements and Public Health Ontario standards.
• Develops, implements and evaluates IPAC policies, procedures and best practices.
• Reviews current evidence and legislative requirements and updates the program accordingly.
• Collaborates with leadership to integrate infection prevention into daily operations.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives related to resident safety.
• Conducts ongoing surveillance for healthcare-associated infections and communicable diseases.
• Reviews laboratory reports, resident health trends and surveillance data to identify infection risks.
• Coordinates outbreak investigations and response activities in collaboration with Public Health.
• Recommends infection prevention interventions based on surveillance findings.
• Monitors infection trends and develops improvement plans to reduce transmission.
• Maintains accurate surveillance documentation and reporting requirements.
• Develops and delivers infection prevention education for all employees, physicians, volunteers, students and contracted service providers.
• Provides ongoing coaching and clinical support regarding Routine Practices, Additional Precautions, hand hygiene, PPE, environmental cleaning and outbreak management.
• Assesses staff competencies and identifies opportunities for practice improvement.
• Promotes knowledge translation by supporting evidence-based practice throughout the home.
• Develops and conducts infection prevention audits including hand hygiene, PPE compliance, environmental cleaning and isolation practices.
• Analyzes audit findings and surveillance data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Develops recommendations and action plans with leaders to improve resident outcomes.
• Participates in quality committees and organizational improvement initiatives.
• Supports Ministry inspections, accreditation activities and quality reviews.
• Develops reports for leadership outlining infection trends, outbreak activity and quality indicators.
• Maintains effective working relationships with Public Health, hospitals, laboratories and community partners.
• Communicates infection prevention information clearly to residents, families and staff.
• Maintains confidential documentation in accordance with legislative and organizational requirements.

Resource Registered Nurse (0.5 FTE)

• Provides direct, resident-centred nursing care, including assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation, in accordance with College of Nurses of Ontario standards and the Fixing Long-Term Care Act.
• Provides clinical coverage and support to resident home areas as assigned, responding to changing resident needs and operational priorities.
• Administers medications and treatments, monitors changes in resident condition, and documents accurately and in a timely manner.
• Acts as a clinical resource and mentor to RPNs, PSWs and other team members, supporting clinical decision-making and escalating concerns as appropriate.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurse practitioners, the interdisciplinary team and families to support resident care planning and care transitions.
• Supports the management of responsive behaviours, palliative care and changes in resident health status.
• Models and reinforces Routine Practices and Additional Precautions at the point of care.
• Participates in quality and resident safety initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
• Completion of recognized Infection Prevention and Control education AND Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC®) obtained within 1 year after the date of hire.
• Current registration in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario as a Registered Nurse.
• Minimum of 3 years RN experience in Long-Term Care, Continuing Care or community healthcare
• Experience with infection surveillance, outbreak management and quality improvement.
• Experience developing and delivering education programs and interpreting legislation, professional standards and evidence-based practice guidelines.
• Knowledge of long-term care legislation, IPAC standards and best practices, outbreak management, infection surveillance, quality improvement, resident-centred care, and electronic health record systems.
• Demonstrated ability to influence infection prevention practices through collaboration, coaching and evidence-informed decision making.
• Ability to collect, interpret and analyze surveillance data to identify trends, assess risk and recommend timely interventions.
• Demonstrates ownership for infection prevention and control practices by maintaining accurate surveillance, identifying risks, following regulatory requirements, and supporting safe, consistent care practices. (ICARE)
• Promotes continuous improvement by applying evidence-informed IPAC practices, sharing knowledge, supporting education, and seeking opportunities to enhance resident safety and quality outcomes. (ICARE)
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate outcomes, monitor performance indicators and implement continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to provide safe, resident-centred direct nursing care and to act as a clinical resource to the care team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, electronic health records, data management systems and reporting software.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex clinical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with residents, families, interdisciplinary teams, physicians, Public Health and external stakeholders.

Language Requirements

English level A- is mandatory in oral expression, oral comprehension, reading comprehension and written expression. Bilingual (French/English) is preferred.

Additional Information

Salary Range: $41.15 to $58.98 per hour

Position Status: Regular Full-time

FTE: 1.0

Job Schedule: Days

Department: Long Term Care

Union: ONA Local 74 (Ottawa)

Site: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Level of Police Check: Vulnerable Sector Check

Number of Vacancies: 1

Posting Number: ROM26-243E