ONA-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Kitchener

Job Summary The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an integral member of the interdisciplinary team within the Withdrawal Management Centre, providing comprehensive, person‑centred care to individuals experiencing substance use disorders and acute withdrawal. The NP plays a key role in the assessment, stabilization, and ongoing management of patients admitted to withdrawal management services, with a focus on evidence‑based withdrawal treatment, harm reduction, and linkage to ongoing addiction and mental health care. At Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), the Nurse Practitioner provides low‑barrier addictions medicine care to individuals with substance use disorders within the residential withdrawal management setting. This approach emphasizes timelyaccess to care, harm reduction principles, and the removal of barriers that may prevent individuals from engaging in treatment. The NP supports individuals at various stages of readiness for change and works to ensure compassionate, stigma‑free care that promotes safety, stabilization, and connection to ongoing supports. The NP coordinates and supports individualized plans of care across the withdrawal management continuum, working collaboratively with nursing staff, physicians, social workers, peer support workers, community partners, and primary care providers. The role emphasizes clinicalleadership in the assessment and management of substance withdrawal symptoms, including alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and other substances, while promoting safe, trauma‑informed, and recovery‑oriented care. Autonomous practice is supported through advanced clinical assessment, diagnostic reasoning, prescribing within the NP scope of practice, and the use of established medical directives (as required), in consultation with addiction medicine physicians and other specialists when appropriate. The NP provides direct clinical care, supports clinical decision‑making for complex cases, and contributes to the development of best practices in withdrawal management and addiction medicine. The NP also supports education and mentorship for interdisciplinary team members, learners, and community partners to enhance capacity in the recognition and management of substance use disorders and withdrawal. Emphasis is placed on fostering collaborative care with patients, families, community agencies, and primary care providers to ensure continuity of care and improved health outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Provide advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, and management of individuals experiencing substance withdrawal and related medical or psychiatric conditions.

Deliver low‑barrier addictions medicine care that supports rapid access to treatment and reduces barriers to engagement for individuals with substance use disorders.

Conduct comprehensive health assessments, including medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial histories, and perform thorough physical examinations.

Develop and implement individualized withdrawal management plans, including pharmacologic and non‑pharmacologic interventions aligned with evidence‑based practice.

Prescribe and monitor medications related to withdrawal management, symptom stabilization, and opioid agonist therapy within the NP scope of practice and applicable directives.

Collaborate with addiction medicine physicians and the interprofessional team to support safe withdrawal, stabilization, and transition planning.

Facilitate linkages to ongoing treatment, including community addiction programs, outpatient services, primary care, and mental health supports.

Support harm reduction initiatives and patient education related to safer substance use practices, overdose prevention, relapse prevention, and recovery supports.

Promote trauma‑informed, culturally responsive, and stigma‑free care that supports patient dignity, autonomy, and engagement in treatment.

Provide clinical leadership and mentorship to nursing staff and interdisciplinary team members in the management of withdrawal syndromes and substance use disorders.

Participate in quality improvement initiatives, evaluating patient outcomes and contributing to program development within the withdrawal management service.

Contribute to education and knowledge translation, supporting staff development and dissemination of evidence‑based practices in addiction medicine and withdrawal management.

Collaborate with community partners, hospitals, and primary care providers to support continuity of care and improved access to addiction treatment services.

Participate in program development and evaluation, helping strengthen withdrawal management services and enhance patient care pathways.

Professional Practice The Nurse Practitioner will practice in accordance with the standards and guidelines of the College of Nurses of Ontario and applicable organizational policies and clinical practice standards. The NP is expected to maintain competence in addiction medicine, withdrawal management, and trauma‑informed care, and to contribute to the ongoing development and advancement of clinical practice within the program.

Position Requirements

Masters of Nursing required.

CNO registration as NP&RN(EC).

Minimum 5 years required in addiction medicine.

3–5 years mental health&addictions experience required.

NPAO/RNAO membership an asset.

Experienced in Suboxone and addiction medicine.

Authorized to prescribe narcotics/controlled substances.

Community/primary care experience.

First Aid/CPR‑C + AED.

Knowledge of Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, etc.

Excellent communication skills.

Open, non‑judgmental approach.

Proficiency in evidence‑based primary care practices.

Strong leadership, organization, evaluation&interpersonal skills.

Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook.

Provide comprehensive care aligned with CNO NP Practice Standard.

Assess/manage patients with addictions&co‑occurring health conditions.

Conduct advanced assessments of emotional, cognitive&behavioral states.

Utilize evidence‑based addiction interventions, including withdrawal mgmt.

Deliver trauma‑informed, recovery‑oriented, harm‑reduction care.

Act as clinical resource to professionals, community groups&families.

EEO and Accessibility Statement We strongly believe in inclusion and diversity within our organization, and welcome all applicants including but not limited to racialised communities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, Indigenous people, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of our Hospital community.

We are committed to providing and fostering a respectful workplace for all employees, free from violence and harassment. Accommodations are available during all stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code. WRHN is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to provide an inclusive, barrier‑free workplace. We will accommodate the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities to support participation in all aspects of the recruitment process. Should you require this accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

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