Requisition number
RFT-DC-OCC
Date posted
07/28/2026
Direct Care Nurse, Registered Nurse (RN) / Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Oliver, BC
Three (3) Regular Full-Time opportunities with Okanagan Correctional Centre located in Oliver, BC. As a Direct Care Nurse, you will provide essential care and support to individuals with concurrent psychiatric, substance use, and physical health needs, either independently or as part of an interdisciplinary team. Your role includes performing comprehensive physical, addiction, and psychiatric assessments; administering prescribed treatments and medications; and closely monitoring client progress and behavioral changes. You will also provide counselling, education, support using motivational and health promotion approaches, and therapeutic repour building, while collaborating with clients, families, and community partners.
What you'll do - Provide direct, trauma-informed and culturally safe nursing care to clients presenting with a wide range and complexity of illnesses and conditions, including communicable diseases, acute and chronic health conditions, substance use, mental health, and general health issues, including clients receiving involuntary treatment under the Mental Health Act in designated spaces within the correctional centre. Conducts physical, substance use, addiction, and psychiatric assessments; collects specimens; refers clients to physicians for further examination; administers prescribed treatments and medications in accordance with established protocols; and monitors, evaluates, and documents client responses, making appropriate clinical adjustments within scope of practice.
- Observe, monitor, evaluate, assess, and document client progress, symptoms, and behavioral changes and performs a variety of mental health, physical health, and substance use interventions utilizing nursing skills and medical equipment including therapeutic interventions using a variety of modalities. Create and monitor care planning. Initiates and facilitates intake. Support and coordinate discharge and transition planning, including follow-up with clients and community partners post-release. The nurse seeks feedback from clients and partners to improve transition processes and outcomes.
- Advocate for clients' rights and well-being, addressing individual and systemic barriers to health equity. The nurse identifies and pursues advocacy issues, including those related to Indigenous health, mental health, and substance use, and supports clients in navigating complex systems.
- When caring for clients under the Mental Health Act, the Direct Care Nurse advocates for client rights, ensures accurate documentation, and supports clients in understanding their legal status and available supports. The nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to uphold ethical and legal standards.
- Provide counselling, education and group programming support to clients using a trauma informed, motivational and health promotion approach regarding mental health and substance use issues and concerns.
- Actively participate in Indigenous Cultural Safety training and engages with Indigenous Elders, cultural advisors, and community partners to inform care planning and delivery. The nurse applies culturally safe practices in all interactions and supports the eradication of Indigenous-specific racism.
What you bring Qualifications
- Current practicing registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse or a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM).
- Two 2 years' recent experience providing acute or direct care nursing care/services to clients who have concurrent psychiatric and/or mental health and substance use disorders or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Successful completion of Occupational First Aid II (OFA II) (or OFA III techniques for positions at Ford Mountain Correctional Centre).
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and how they intersect across the health care system.
Core Competencies
- Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
- Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).
Skills & Knowledge
- Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Practice and its application to the defined population of clients. Working knowledge of BCCNM's Standards for Nursing Practice.
- Knowledge of the BC Mental Health Act, criminal code of Canada, other facilities, and community resources.
- Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
- Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.
What we bring Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That's why we're focused on your care too - offering health, wellness, development programs to support you - at work and at home.
- Join one of BC's largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations - offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
- Access to professional development opportunities through our 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more.
- Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
- Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
- PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
- Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.
Job Type: Three (3) Regular Full-Time Opportunities
Wage: $41.42 - $59.52 per hour
Location: 200 Enterprise Way, Oliver, B.C. VOH 1T2
Hours of Work: Rotating; 0500-1715/ 1045-2300
Requisition # 202128E, 202129E, and 202130E
** Please indicate in your cover letter why you are interested in joining our team at the Okanagan Correctional Centre!
*If you are a new grad (graduated in the last 18 months and have NOT completed the new grad program at another health authority), we ask all new grads apply to one posting. You can find the posting and more information about our new grad program through this link: http://www.phsa.ca/careers/nursing-careers/new-graduate-nursing-careers*
