Overview:

Join a hospital where everyone makes a difference! Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) is a thriving community hospital that proudly provides acute care services including: Emergency, Surgery, Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Health, Intensive Care, Mental Health, and Inpatient Rehabilitation.

Our vision is to creating healthier communities together*.* Our dedicated and skilled staff are passionate about providing outstanding patient-centred care, and an exceptional patient experience to residents of the Waterloo Region and beyond.

Why Should You Apply to CMH?

• Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• Group Benefits, including Health & Dental, for full time employees
• Employee & Family Assistance Program
• Career Development & Education Grant
• Wellness & Wellbeing Program
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives

Come be part of our vision as CMH leads in innovation and compassion! To learn more about CMH, please visit our website at www.cmh.org.

Job Description:

Salary Range: $39.07 - $56.00

As an instrumental member of the Mental Health Program, the Charge Registered Nurse (RN) provides both direct and indirect patient care, including assessment of patients’ physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral needs. The Charge RN supports safe, high-quality, patient-centered care by coordinating patient flow, staffing, and daily unit operations.

The Charge RN will assess patients and develop care and safety plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, support implementation of treatment, and review documentation of findings, interventions, and outcomes. The Charge RN will also work closely with the Emergency Department Charge RN to support timely admissions, expedite patient flow from ED to PCU to Inpatient Mental Health, and facilitate repatriations and transfers from other facilities. The Charge nurse may also be asked to be involved in off service psychiatric/mental health assessments when operationally required.

This role includes active participation in interdisciplinary rounds, discharge planning and referrals, and liaison with community partners to ensure safe and effective transitions of care. The successful incumbent will also serve as a consistent point of contact for staff, patients, and families, supporting therapeutic rapport, patient engagement, and family communication.

The Charge Nurse organizes staffing assignments, patient flow, and delegation of care responsibilities based on acuity and the CNO Three Factor Framework. They act as a leader in crisis response (Code White), ensuring patient and staff safety while promoting therapeutic best practices.

The successful candidate will provide supervision and mentorship to staff, serve as a role model, and support professional practice through coaching and auditing. They will contribute to, and at times lead, accreditation, safety, and quality improvement initiatives, collaborate with unit management and the educator on incident reviews, and ensure timely documentation and departmental data submission. Part of the role is to ensure that unit practices are aligned with the Mental Health Act. This position requires a supportive, proactive leader who fosters engagement, collaboration, and professional development while consistently upholding CNO Standards of Practice and hospital policies.

In addition to these core responsibilities, the Charge Registered Nurse will also assume other leadership duties as required to support the Mental Health Program and organizational priorities. This may include leading or participating in special projects, supporting policy and practice development, assisting with staff orientation and training, and representing the unit on hospital-wide committees and initiatives as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Current Certificate of Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) as a Registered Nurse in good standing (required).
• Diploma or Baccalaureate degree in Nursing required; Master’s degree preferred.
• CNA Mental Health Nursing Certification required.
• Current BCLS certification.
• Minimum 5+ years of mental health experience working with severely and persistently mentally ill populations.
• Strong knowledge of psychiatric medications, uses, and side effects.
• Proficiency in mental health legislation: Mental Health Act, Healthcare Consent Act, Substitute Decisions Act, and PHIPA.
• Excellent mental health assessment, critical thinking, and crisis management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including mentoring and coaching staff.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate discharge planning and engage community resources effectively.
• Excellent negotiation, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a patient-centered, interdisciplinary team model.
• Strong communication skills with patients, families, staff, and community partners.
• Code White training (Non-Violent Crisis Intervention) and de-escalation skills.
• Knowledge of OMHRS reporting requirements.
• Meditech proficiency and familiarity with critical reporting.
• I.V. certification and strong physical assessment skills.
• Demonstrated attendance reliability.

Core Competencies

• Patient-focused care with commitment to therapeutic best practices.
• Excellence in professional practice and continuous learning.
• Ability to de-escalate and manage crisis effectively.
• Initiative, accountability, and sound judgment.
• Strong collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication, time management, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to safety, quality improvement, and accreditation.

Additional Information

• As per the O.N.A. Collective Agreement, all O.N.A. members (full-time, part-time & casual) are eligible to apply.
• In keeping with CMH’s COVID-19 policy, staff must have received all required doses of a Health Canada–approved vaccine, subject to human rights accommodation.
• Successful external applicants must provide a valid criminal record check (original, within 2 months of offer).
• As per the O.N.A. Collective Agreement, all O.N.A. members (full-time, part-time & casual) are eligible to apply for this position

As part of our commitment to the health and safety of our patients, staff and community from COVID-19, subject to any accommodation required by applicable human rights legislation, Cambridge Memorial Hospital requires that all staff have received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada.

The successful external applicant is required to provide the applicable criminal record check, as requested by Human Resources, in accordance with federal and provincial legislation. Valid criminal record checks are in original format and dated with two months from date of conditional offer from CMH.

CMH Inclusion Statement

At Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH), community matters to us. We acknowledge and are grateful for the opportunity to meet, work and offer healthcare on what is the traditional territories for the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee and the Chinnonton.

We are committed to providing and fostering a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace; one that generates belonging. We want a work culture where people are free to express their authentic selves and are able to bring their best daily. That includes a workplace that is free from violence, harassment and discrimination of any kind.

We welcome all applicants and encourage members of equity-deserving groups including Indigenous and LGBTQ2SIA+ communities regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, neurodiversity or physical ability. We promise to ask if needed, and to provide reasonable accommodation to you during the recruitment and selection process to ensure an equitable experience.

To support all of us in this journey, Cambridge Memorial Hospital is an employee partner with the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI) and provides access to all CMH members to CCDI resources and education. We encourage you to reflect upon our inclusive commitment to you as we welcome and encourage you to explore a promising future career at CMH.

Mari Iromoto Executive Champion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Susan Toth, Director of Human Resources

We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) proudly integrates AI-based technologies into its applicant screening process to enhance recruitment. These tools are designed to reduce bias and uphold fair hiring practices based on skills, education, and experience. CMH’s AI serves to assist, not replace, human decision-making, with results audited to ensure quality and equity. This initiative reinforces the hospital’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, ensuring the best talent is selected while adhering to its core values.