Registered Nurse - Mental Health

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

All applicants must provide a recent resume that clearly indicates that they meet the required qualifications.

Duties

Mental Health Nurses working for the Department of National Defense provide care to members of the Canadian Armed Forces as part of an interdisciplinary care team working in a patient centered outpatient clinical environment. Practice is focused on providing individual and group therapy to promote mental health, and for the treatment and management of mental disorders. Mental health nurses provide care through the development of therapeutic relationships, completing biopsychosocial assessments, administering and monitoring therapeutic interventions such behavioral and interpersonal therapy, managing crisis, and providing psycho-education and medication teaching.

Work environment

The Department of National Defence (DND) is one of the largest federal government employers, offering over 70 different types of civilian career opportunities. DND's role is to provide services and support to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in their operations and missions at home and abroad. As a civilian employee, you will be an essential part of the Defence Team. In this regard, the department fosters a work environment where employees have opportunities to grow, to learn, to progress in their careers and have job satisfaction over the long-term.

Intent of the process

This inventory may be used for various tenures (indeterminate, deployment, specified period, assignment, secondment). Applicants who meet the essential qualifications will have their application included in the inventory for this ongoing selection process. As positions become available, the applicants meeting the initial screening requirements identified by the hiring manager may be contacted and referred for consideration. Please ensure that your information is updated and remains current in your PSRS Applicant Account.

Your application in this inventory will be active for 365 days. A notice that your application is about to expire will be posted to the My jobs menu of your account 14 days before the end of your active period. If you do not take action, your application will no longer be active and therefore no longer considered for this inventory. Should your application become inactive while the process is still open, a notice will be posted to your account indicating that your application has expired; you may select the link Update my Inventory Status to reaffirm your interest.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "Please provide a covering letter, in no more than 450 words, describing your interest in working with a military population and clearly identifying your recent work experience in direct patient care in a mental health setting."

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing or some other specialty relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Eligibility for registration as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) (see NOTE*) in a province or territory of Canada, and no current license suspensions/restrictions with any professional regulatory organizations.

*NOTE: Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)* practice as a distinct profession and are regulated in Canada in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba through four regulatory bodies the College of Registered Nurse of British Columbia, the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta, the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan, and the college of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba.

E1 – Significant* and recent** experience in providing nursing care to a variety of persons experiencing mental health issues in a community mental health setting.

*Significant is defined as at least seventeen-hundred (1,700) hours of experience in a broad range of related activities. 1,700 hours is equivalent to one-year of full-time work.

** Recent is defined as within the last 5 years

E2 – Experience completing biopsychosocial assessments

E3 – Experience providing counselling, psychotherapy and nursing interventions to patients with mental disorders and psycho-social difficulties

E4 – Experience working with clients in individual and group settings.

COMPETENCIES
C1- Demonstrating integrity and respect
C2- Showing initiative and being action oriented
C3- Think things through
C4- Working effectively with others
C5- Communication

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Asset Qualifications - Education

Certificate or diploma in psychiatric mental health nursing from a recognized post-secondary institution*.

*NOTE: Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) education will meet this asset qualification.

Degree equivalency

Asset Qualifications - Occupational Certification
Canadian Nurses Association Certification in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, CPMHN(C).
Certificate in concurrent disorders.

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS
E1 – Experience working with concurrent disorders.

E2 – Experience working in delivering presentations and facilitating groups.

E3 – Experience in providing various modalities of psychotherapy including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Trauma Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

Willing and able to work occasional overtime
Willing and able to occasionally travel occasionally
Willing and able to work flexible hours

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES
A1 – Ability to provide evidence-based recommendations
A2 – Ability to gather and analyse information to influence treatment and outcomes.
A3 – Ability to prioritize tasks and environment

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

The Department of National Defence is committed to providing an environment where justice, fairness and the elimination of barriers helps build a skilled, diverse and representative workforce reflective of Canada. We welcome diversity in all its forms, promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply. Please note that preference for hiring will first be given to candidates who are members of the above mentioned designated groups.

In support of Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) initiative #24, consideration may be given to the spouses or common-law partners of CAF members.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Occasional overtime may be required.
Occasional travel on short notice may be required.
Flexible working hours may be required.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Reliability and Security: Enhanced Reliability.

Continuous registration, in good standing, with the provincial regulatory body responsible for regulating the profession of nursing in which employment is maintained.

Candidates must meet and maintain the above noted conditions of employment throughout their employment.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

PLEASE NOTE: For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail for screening/assessment purposes (including issuing screening results, and sending invitations for written tests and interviews).

Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

You will be required to show how you demonstrate the essential qualifications (i.e. Education, Experience and/or Occupational Certification) for the initial screening through your resume and in answering online screening questions. It is NOT sufficient to only state that the qualifications are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Rather you must clearly demonstrate HOW, WHEN, and WHERE the qualification was met through substantiation by examples. Information on your described skills, experience, etc. provided in screening questions should be supported by your resume. Failure to provide the above information in the format required may result in your application being rejected from the process.

Not all work locations listed have current vacancies. This process will be used to fill future vacancies.

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of their choice.

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Apply online