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Location

Truro, NS | Canada

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Job description

Position at VON Canada (Nova Scotia)

Requisition Details:

Employment Status: Casual
Program Name: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Work Schedule: Days, Evenings, Nights, Weekends
Union/Bargaining Unit: NSNU
On Call: Yes
Location Coverage: SANEs must be able to respond to a case in all 3 designated emergency departments (Truro, Amherst, Musquodoboit Valley) within 1.5 hours.

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program is a provincial, community-based intervention service that is provided, in this region, to Colchester and Cumberland counties and the Eastern Shore area. It is managed/administrated by the VON Colchester East Hants site.  Specially trained RNs and NPs provide timely, professional, confidential, trauma-informed medical and forensic care and referrals for aftercare to post-pubescent victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, of all genders and orientations, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

SANEs report to the Manager of the SANE program. SANEs will be hired as an employee of VON, and all training will be provided. SANEs must attend scheduled monthly meetings and training sessions as necessary. On-call SANEs must be able to respond to a case in all 3 designated emergency departments (Truro, Amherst, Musquodoboit Valley) within 1.5 hours.

Current VON nurses are encouraged to apply and may hold positions in both the visiting nurse program and the SANE program.  External candidates with a primary job elsewhere will be assigned on-call hours based on the availability provided.  Available hours must be provided 6 weeks (or more) in advance for each month.

If External candidates are interested in working concurrently as a visiting nurse with VON, please indicate your interest on your cover letter.

The SANE course is 5 days long in the classroom, often in Truro, with a 2-day Skills Lab usually in Halifax on a weekend.  VON orientation and e-learning are also required with a date to be determined.  The DV course may be an additional 2 days (to be decided).

Hired nurses will be trained to work in a support role with fully trained SANEs, with plans to take the next SANE course offered.  Questions can be directed to the Manager at [email protected]

Key Responsibilities:

• Function as part of the on-call SANE response team and be available for a minimum of 96 hours per month.
• Respond to calls at designated sites within 1.5 hours (emergency departments in Truro, Amherst, Musquodoboit Valley) 
• Triage clients to determine if any necessary medical treatment is needed before forensic exam.
• Conduct medical-forensic exams, including proper collection of photographic and other evidence, accurately conducting sexual assault medical forensic interviews and maintaining chain of evidence.
• Administering prophylactic medications, including emergency contraception.
• Document all aspects of the encounter with the victim as per regulatory requirements, including mandatory duty to report as appropriate.
• Awareness of other community programs related to sexual assault.
• Testify in legal proceedings as necessary.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Use a trauma-informed approach when caring for victims/survivors.
• Provide client-centered and culturally competent care.
• Maintain accountability based on the standards established by the Nova Scotia College of Nursing, policies, and protocols of the individual healthcare facilities and the SANE program, and ethical and legal requirements of professional practice.
• Maintain competency through regular practice, attending monthly staff meetings, professional development opportunities, and review of training material.
• Access confidential debriefing services as needed to maintain emotional and physical wellness

Education, Designations, and Experience:

• Must be licensed as an RN or NP in the province of Nova Scotia.
• Current CPR required (grace time given due to lack of courses during pandemic)
• Must be available to complete VON Orientation and NS community-based SANE training upon hire with commitment to complete full SANE certification at a later date.
• Previous SANE experience is a strong asset.
• Three (3) years of experience in the community, women’s health, or acute care preferred.
• Experience in forensic or emergency nursing, mental health, women’s health, sexual health, crisis response, counseling, or trauma-informed care, is an asset.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system is an asset.

Skill Requirements:

• Ability to observe and make effective assessments of clinical and forensic issues .
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills that allow for effective engagement with clients of sexual assault, staff, the SANE team, community partners, and the public.
• Strong interpersonal relationship-building skills.
• Ability to be independent with decision-making
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team with SANE partners, and community partners.
• The capacity to adhere to strict confidentiality.
• Able to articulate effective knowledge of components of quality and risk management principles as they relate to clinical practices.
• Effective time management skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Highly organized
• Use of computer programs such as Excel for submitting timesheets and Adobe Acrobat to submit availability

Other

• Access to reliable transportation
• Comfortable driving at night and in various weather conditions
• Current and original copies of satisfactory Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector check and Child Abuse Registry check.
• The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be required

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: fast-paced environment; attention to detail; lift and carry using appropriate lifting techniques; bend, push, pull, reach, kneel, and crouch using good body mechanics; walk, sit, stand, and climb stairs; grip and repetitive fine hand movements.

VON Canada is committed to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and to providing accessibility accommodations for candidates who require them. If you are in need of accessibility support, please visit our website at for further details.

Attention Current Employees (Internal Applicants):  If you are applying to a unionized position and you are a member of its bargaining unit, please be aware that this posting may remain open beyond the deadline if there are not enough applicants to fill the position(s).  If the posting remains open after the initial deadline, VON may close the posting at its’ discretion or a rolling deadline equivalent to the posting period specified in your Collective Agreement will be deemed, and each successive period will be treated as a separate posting for purposes of comparing seniority between candidates.

VON Canada is committed to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and to providing accessibility accommodations for candidates who require them. If you are in need of accessibility support, please visit our website at for further details.

VON Canada is committed to embracing and celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI) as fundamental to living out our values of Respect, Compassion, and Excellence in all that we do.

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