Staff Nurse / Patient & Family Care Coordinator, Garron Centre

Company : IWK Health 

Req ID: 219548 
Department/Program: Garron Centre, Mental Health And Addictions 
Location: Halifax   
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly FT short-assignment (100% FTE) for 2 months x 1 position(s)
Start Date: April 2026
Union Status: NSNU Nursing, Nursing Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $40.5534 - $51.7412 /hour
Closing Date: April 27, 2026 (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 Clinical Manager, Garron Centre for Child & Adolescent Mental Health, the Staff Nurse/Patient and Family care Coordinator works collaboratively with the clinical team, including social workers, nurses, transition support worker (s) and the discharge coordinator to provide continuity of care to enhance support to the patient/family as they become established with other MHA and community resources during transition /discharge. Collaborates and communicates with the patient/family, the interdisciplinary team and key stakeholders throughout the implementation of the established plan of care based on the interdisciplinary assessment(s), as required, to facilitate transition of care. Fosters and supports the integration of information provided by the interdisciplinary team with respect to promoting continuity of the established plan of care. Contributes to revisions to the plan of care as necessary based on progress and changing health status in consultation and collaboration with the patient/family and the interdisciplinary team(s). Applies knowledge of patient /family strengths and weaknesses, utilizing prior learning and past experiences to contribute to a plan that will support the patient/ family knowledge and informed decision making while promoting continuity of care. Supports the integration, reinforcement and sharing of educational information provided by the interdisciplinary team(s), as required to better support the patient/family to achieve their goals. Promotes patient/family knowledge and informed decision making through support of interdisciplinary education related to, but not limited to: disease and disease processes, stigma, medication and medication management, medication side effects and interactions, administration of treatments, safety plans, procedures and policies as defined by IWK and community supports systems. Educates and coaches the patient/family, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team as required, in a flexible and creative manner using accurate and consistent information. The Staff Nurse's focus will primarily involve an acute care population, but the provision of care and consultation within in community settings will also be required. The Staff Nurse is responsible and accountable for the application of current theory and research in the delivery of patient and family centred patient care consistent with the philosophy, objectives, vision and mission of the IWK Health Centre. The Staff Nurse practices in accordance with the Canadian Nurses Association's Code of Ethics, the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia Standards of Nursing Practice, specialty standards as applicable and the policies and procedures of the IWK.

Hours of Work

8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday; Flexibility is required.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required.
• Registered, or eligible to be registered, with NSCN required.
• Current successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support (BLS) Program within the last 12 months or successful completion of a Challenge Renewal certificate required.
• Minimum two (2) years' experience working with children and youth, with clinical experience in Mental Health nursing, involving physical assessment, treatment and consultation with mental health disorders required.
• CNA Certification is Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing preferred.
• Completion of the RNPDC Program in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing preferred.
• Current Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) certification.
• Specific training and experience in the delivery of evidence-based treatments for Psychiatric Disorders (i.e. Eating Disorders) preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in providing group interventions for parents, children and adolescents required.
• Demonstrated experienced in successfully developing, maintaining and closing therapeutic relationships.
• Demonstrated interdisciplinary teamwork, time management, prioritization, communication (verbal and written), organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in patient/family teaching required.
• Demonstrated excellent communication and organizational skills required.
• Experience with medical data collection, organization and descriptive statistics preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team required.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to family centered care required.
• Knowledge of IWK mental health programs and community resources.
• Competencies in other languages an asset.

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.