Clinical Nurse Specialist - Psychosocial

The University Health Network (UHN), where “above all else the needs of patients come first”, encompasses Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and the Michener Institute of Education at UHN. The breadth of research, the complexity of the cases treated, and the magnitude of its educational enterprise has made UHN a national and international resource for patient care, research, and education. With a long tradition of groundbreaking firsts and a purpose of “Transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning,” UHN, Canada’s largest research teaching hospital, brings together over 16,000 employees, more than 1,200 physicians, 8,000+ students, and many volunteers. UHN is a caring, creative place where amazing people are amazing the world.

Psychosocial Oncology is a specialty in cancer care focused on the impact of cancer upon the whole person including the social, psychological, emotional, spiritual and functional aspects of the illness experience. The Psychosocial Oncology division of the Department of Supportive Care is an integrated, multidisciplinary team of clinicians that work together to meet the psychosocial needs of Princess Margaret patients and families from diagnosis, throughout the trajectory of illness.

Individuals with cancer and severe mental illness (SMI) are a constituency of patients facing disparities of care affecting their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Patients with SMI who develop cancer have unique psychosocial and medical needs and concerns during their illness trajectory. The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role within the psychosocial oncology program will aim to reduce the health disparities experienced by individuals with cancer and severe and persistent mental illness.

The CNS will have responsibilities with both direct and indirect patient care activities. Emphasis with this role will be placed on the comprehensive screening and assessment of oncology patients undergoing active cancer treatment with severe mental illness and their essential caregivers. To address gaps in the current model of care for this vulnerable population, the CNS in collaboration with the interprofessional team, will lead the development of proactive integrated patient care plans addressing the complexities of a cancer diagnosis in addition to severe mental illness concerns. These activities fall within the domains of advanced nursing practice, as defined by the UHN Framework for Advanced Nursing Practice-Clinical Practice, Leadership, Research, Collaboration and Change Agent.

Other responsibilities of the CNS include performing research activities such as establishing metrics and data collection for program and role evaluation; developing, delivering and participating in education and professional development activities; and performing activities to build capacity within the cancer program to improve care for this vulnerable population.

This position will report to the Director of Professional Practice at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

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Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.