The AVI Nanaimo Community Health Centre (CHC) hosts a variety of program options for community members and service users to access. AVI nurses work across different programs, providing care and support to clients/participants across a range and a continuum of health and wellness.
The CHC provides primary care, HIV/HCV, substance use, OAT, STBBI, PrEP/PEP medical services, as well as outreach, supports, and social programming. It provides streamlined access to addiction medicine and substance use services while offering a host of complementary supports under one roof including the Enhanced Harm Reduction Service (EHR) Program.
The EHR is a flexible, community‐based, nursing led, harm reduction program that provides pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic street drug supply along with wrap around supports. The EHR program aims to help individuals reduce their risk of dying from a drug poisoning event and our service users may not have sobriety or abstinence as their goals of care.
AVI Nanaimo Community Health Centre (CHC) also provides educational services for the communities we support and a place for a variety of students and professionals to explore and learn about this important work.
Our services are delivered across the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Stz'uminus, and Snaw'naw'as People.
Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centered team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.
The CHC Clinic Nurse will work as needed throughout our AVI Nanaimo Community Health Centre, providing care and service for clients/participants who utilize any of our programs. These programs include support for primary care, substance use, people living with or at risk of HIV/Hepatitis C, bloodborne infections, testing and treatment services, health promotion, education, advocacy, drop-in harm reduction services, enhanced harm reduction, and outreach into the community.
This Registered Nurse will work in partnership with an interdisciplinary team to provide person-centered health care including assessment, screening, education, and interventions to support those accessing our programs. The RN will use a harm reduction, trauma informed approach, using strong clinical skills to independently assess those with complex health needs and active poly-substance use.
This position requires a professional, Registered Nurse (RN) who has experienced with harm reduction strategies, committed to collaborative work with multiple stakeholders with the AVI organization, community organizations, colleagues, and those with lived/living experience of criminalized drug use.
The successful candidate will embody and demonstrate a philosophy and practice of collaboration; working from a relational perspective that upholds the values of empathy, social justice, cultural humility, and trauma informed care.
The RN will operate to full scope, working 3 days/week (specifically Tuesday-Thursday) in conjunction with our current STI Clinic nurse, our HIV/HCV nurse, and the CHC program manager. The RN will report to AVI Nanaimo Nurse Manager (or designate).
- Provide intake, assessment, access to medication, education, referral, advocacy, follow-up and support for clients requiring OAT, Primary Care, STBBI, PrEP, PEP, and EHR services.
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Provide care and support to individuals with high levels of poly-substance use, a variety and complexity of acute and chronic conditions, related but not exclusive to conditions of poverty and criminalization.
- Assist clients with a variety of income, medical, and disability forms/documents including but not limited to PWD, nutritional supplementation, ICBC, etc.
- Support clients who may be eligible for Hepatitis C treatment and follow-up.
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Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide outreach services and harm reduction supplies to vulnerable/marginalized clients and communities who are at high risk for HIV/AIDS, HCV, blood borne infections.
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Provide support to clients that includes primary and specialist care, mental health, sexual health, wound management, diagnostic and laboratory services, and medication adherence/management.
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Provide systems navigation, advocacy and active referral to housing, disability, mental health, and substance use services, nutrition support, and other relevant services.
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Provide Harm Reduction support through collaborative, risk reduction strategies, education, distribution of harm reduction supplies, overdose prevention education, including Naloxone training and distribution.
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Work independently and collaboratively with the AVI Nanaimo team to support people contemplating or accessing pharmaceutical alternatives to illegal/toxic substances in a variety of settings, such as parks, drop-in centers, shelters, supported housing units, and overdose prevention sites, etc.
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Provide education, information, and appropriate referrals, responsive to the self-identified needs of participants to manage their health, enhance the understanding of their health status, and navigate through the diverse services, and community supports related to their care.
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Identify the health issues, behaviors, needs, barriers and challenges for an at-risk population.
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Participate in multidisciplinary case coordination for clients living with HIV and/or HCV.
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Collaborate with participants and the AVI Team to develop and maintain individualized care plans, providing ongoing monitoring and support with clients, in accordance with the care plan.
- Initiate, administer, and document any publicly funded vaccines provided to eligible clients/participants.
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Provide screening, assessment and administration of medications as ordered by the program prescribers/physicians. This includes the dispensing and administration of OAT medications and controlled substances.
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Provide pre- and post-test counseling for the HIV antibody test, test results and ongoing support and referral to meet the needs of clients.
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Provide harm reduction education, counseling and support from a nursing perspective on issues relating to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), HIV, and blood borne infections; in the clinic and non-traditional settings such as bars, drop-ins, on the street and other meeting places.
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Work with community partners to ensure seamless support for program participants.
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Liaise with community-based organizations to plan, develop, implement and deliver preventive education as needed to targeted groups.
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Work collaboratively in a team setting to develop creative strategies to address the challenges and participates in research projects, and surveys as required.
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Participate in staff meetings, huddles, training, education, and engage in community relationship building, and networking.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the AVI Nanaimo leadership team (or designate) including transportation of medical specimens, vaccines, medications, clinic supplies, etc.
- RN designation from an accredited institution, with current registration with the BCCNM.
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Certification in reproductive health with BCCNM preferred. Priority given to those with previous reproductive health certification and experience.
- Minimum of 3 years of nursing experience working with those managing high levels of polysubstance use, mental health challenges, screening, assessment and treatment services to clients at risk and/or living with HIV/AIDS including providing STBBI/HIV testing.
- Experience working with trans, queer, gender-nonconforming, bi, questioning, and GBMSM identified communities.
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Experience working with structurally vulnerable clients and communities.
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Experience in responding to medical emergencies such as toxic drug poisoning (naloxone administration, airway management, etc.).
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Experience with phlebotomy, vaccines and providing immunizations.
- Transportation of dangerous goods certification will be required of this position.
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Valid BC Drivers license required. There will be local area travel, including the occasional transportation of clients and regular transportation of specimens.
- Requires the use of a personal vehicle.
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Valid and current CPR/BLS for Healthcare Providers certification.
- Demonstrated clinical skills, experience, and knowledge in primary care, substance use disorder care (including opiate agonist treatment options, harm reduction, HIV, HCV, sexual health, mental health, health promotion, and care for those experiencing systemic poverty.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, including strong listening, information-seeking, conflict resolution, and non-violent crisis intervention skills; practiced with accountability, boundaries, and self-responsibility.
- Strong commitment to person-centered, equity-oriented healthcare, including advocacy, trauma-informed practice, social justice, anti-racism, decolonization, and harm reduction.
- Demonstrated understanding of public health policy and equity-oriented models of social support, including the impacts of poverty, trauma, substance use, mental illness, racism, colonialism, heterosexism, and gender discrimination on health and well-being.
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Commitment to honoring Indigenous communities and Ways of Knowing, with curiosity and humility regarding the ongoing impacts of colonial violence.
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Demonstrated capacity to work under pressure, manage crisis situations, and recognize subtle changes in participants, including responding effectively to aggressive or suicidal behavior.
- Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively, make sound clinical decisions, take initiative, prioritize workload, and adapt to changing or unexpected situations in a dynamic work environment.
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Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with participants and colleagues within multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary teams, including those colleagues and participants who are experiencing intersecting forms of systemic oppression.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and prioritization skills, with the ability to facilitate resolution in complex situations.
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Demonstrated resilience and commitment to self-care practices.
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Capable independent practitioner and engaged team member, with demonstrated ability to provide consultation, leadership, and work direction as delegated.
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Proficient in the use of computer systems, electronic medical records, medical equipment, and related technologies for documentation, reporting, and treatment delivery.
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Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within a multidisciplinary setting.
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Demonstrated ability to prioritize, take initiative, be flexible, and work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
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Physical ability to perform the duties of the position and operate related equipment.
POSITION DETAILS:
- Pay: Per BCNU pay grid, RN Level 3 (ranging between $41.42 -$55.91)
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Hours and Schedule: 0.6 FTE. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:00am to 5:00pm
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Start date: May 15, 2026
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Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Nurses' Bargaining Association 2022-2025 and this role is an Included Position.
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Location & Departments: This position will be working out of the AVI Nanaimo Community Health Clinic departments. Also, in the community as needed.
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Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage in compliance with the BCNU Collective Agreement. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
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Pension: This position is eligible to join the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP) after 487.5 hours at AVI. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account.
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Other Perks: This position gets 7.69% vacation (equivalent to 20 work days, prorated for part time), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 5% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.92%. Sick and Vacation banks are both accessible after your first 487.5 hours with AVI.
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Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.
TO APPLY:
To apply, Please click on 'To apply' to send your Resume and Cover Letter (optional). This posting is open until filled.
AVI is committed to equity and diversity and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialized, persons living with a disability, persons who use/d drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.
As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
