Discharge Planner, Registered Nurse

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 205074 
Department/Program: Discharge Planning, Children's Surgical, Emergency and Rehabilitation 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly PT (60% FTE)  x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSNU Nursing, Nursing Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $41.5833 - $52.9001 /hour
Closing Date: July 6th, 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

Reporting to the Manager, Inpatient Surgical Care/Child Life Services, the Discharge Planner provides a leadership role in planning and coordinating the appropriate and timely discharge of patients from hospital including the authorization of NSH Continuing Care services.  This role will embrace the Home First philosophy and provide IWK hospital based care coordination assessments, resource allocation and authorization of continuing care programs and services to successfully support smooth transitions from hospital to home across all NSH zones.  As an integral member of a multi-disciplinary team, which includes NSH Continuing Care program employees, the Discharge Planner works closely with the patient’s family and other health care professionals in the acute care setting, and liaises closely with many community-based programs and services.  The Discharge Planner promotes and coordinates the practice of family centred discharge planning.  This role provides anticipatory guidance for patients and families with complex care needs who are preparing for home or transfer within Nova Scotia.

Key Responsibilities (but not limited to):
•    Facilitates timely, comprehensive discharge plans for patients and families that result in continuity of care and efficient use of hospital and community resources.
•    Assumes a leadership role in the complex discharge coordination process, including the early identification and intervention of patient and family needs.
•    Complies with NSH Continuing Care policies, programs, and services.
•    Performs comprehensive assessments on all patients and families referred to Discharge Coordination, including functional and financial information. 
•    Liaises with patients, families, nurses, physicians, social workers, and other multi-disciplinary team members, across all NSHA zones and, within appropriate programs and services outside of Continuing Care. 
•    Documents plan of care appropriately.  Complies with quality management principles.
•    Provides information to patients and families regarding available community resources, to assist with discharge from hospital.
•    Promotes quality health care by performing any other related duties that may be assigned or required to meet the objectives of the Discharge Coordination role.

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday 0800-1600

Your Qualifications

•    Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, plus five (5) years related pediatric experience.   A combination of education, training and experience as deemed essential may be considered.
•    Experience across the continuum of care and knowledge of the Continuing Care Program and other community resources required.
•    Knowledge of community agencies, resources, home care and long-term care programs and of social assistance and child/adult protection legislation required.
•    Demonstrated knowledge of system theories of aging, family dynamics and solutions focused theory.
•    Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within an inter-disciplinary team and in a self-directed environment, exercising strong leadership, organizational, time management, judgement and decision-making skills.
•    Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with external agencies.
•    Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and to promoting a culture that supports safety, ethical practices and organizational health.
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to interact positively with clients, families, other healthcare providers and staff, demonstrating a genuine concern for others.
•    Competency with computers is essential and knowledge of Microsoft Word, e-mail applications and keyboarding is an asset.
•    Demonstrated regular attendance in current and previous employment.
•    Valid Nova Scotia Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle.
•    Physical and mental requirements to perform the duties of the position, including working alone or with team members in the community or home setting; working flexible hours; traveling to zones within the province as necessary. 

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.