Job Category: Nursing Hospital Location: Newmarket ON Job Type: Permanent, Casual Number of Positions: 1 Union: ONA RN Minimum - Maximum Hourly Rate: $43.16 - $60.12 Why Join Our Team? A people-first workplace environment that prioritizes belonging, wellness, and psychological safety. Hybrid, virtual, and in-person working environment (where applicable). Progressive health and dental benefit plans. HOOPP pension plan with employer and employee premium sharing. Enhanced wellness initiatives, including virtual fitness classes and on-site gym memberships. If you are ready to embrace this exciting challenge and contribute to the success of Southlake Health, we encourage you to apply and be part of our dedicated team, making a difference in the lives of our employees and the community we serve! About the role: The Discharge Nurse plays a crucial role in coordinating patient discharge across multiple inpatient programs. This position is based in the Emergency Department but reports to the Patient Access & Flow Department. This role may involve working in other clinical areas/programs to provide discharge planning support and expertise. Education will be provided to the other areas ensuring that every patient has a comprehensive discharge plan tailored to their needs. The Discharge Nurse ensures a consistent, hospital-wide approach to discharge planning, optimizing patient flow, improving patient care outcomes, and supporting the hospital’s broader goals of timely discharge and length of stay reduction. As a member of the interprofessional health care team, the Discharge Nurse plays a key role in Southlake’s purpose of “Building healthy communities through outstanding care, innovate partnerships, and amazing people” by living the Southlake values and upholding the hospital Code of Conduct. What you’ll be doing: Discharge Planning: Facilitate the development and implementation of a patient-centered discharge plan within 24 hours of admission. Engage with patients and families to ensure a smooth transition from hospital care to home or another care facility. Corporate Collaboration: Work with clinical teams on inpatient units to ensure adherence to corporate discharge policies and procedures. Participate in discharge rounds, case conferences, and daily patient flow meetings. Patient Education: Provide clear, concise education and information to patients, families, and caregivers regarding the discharge plan, ensuring understanding of follow-up care, prescriptions, and other post-discharge requirements. Interprofessional Liaison: Act as a key liaison between internal and external healthcare partners, ensuring the timely transfer of information for referrals and follow-up care. Address any barriers to discharge, including escalation of Alternative Level of Care (ALC) issues. Documentation and Data Management: Ensure that all discharge-related activities are documented in Meditech and other relevant systems. Contribute to hospital-wide performance metrics related to discharge planning, patient flow, and bed utilization. Corporate Leadership: Champion corporate initiatives related to discharge planning and patient flow. Ensure that discharge processes align with hospital goals for length of stay and resource utilization. Training and Education: Support and educate clinical staff on best practices in discharge planning. Provide ongoing training to ensure consistency and compliance with corporate discharge protocols. Quality Improvement: Participate in quality assurance initiatives, audits, and continuous improvement projects aimed at enhancing discharge processes and patient outcomes. Engage with teams to address readmission risks and improve patient flow. What you bring: Registered Nurse in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing preferred Minimum five (5) years Emergency department nursing experience required Two (2) years' experience in discharge planning or equivalent preferred Two (2) years’ leadership experience in roles such as Charge Nurse or Team Lead Current knowledge of Southlake's Transition Pathways or external hospital equivalent, working knowledge of community supports and external partners Must have the ability to assist & support clinical patient care Assist and support in day-to-day clinical care activity, as required Collaborative working relationship with an interprofessional health care team. Effective communication and counselling skills Strong commitment to Patient and Family Centered Care Strong verbal and written communication skills Excellent interpersonal skills Demonstrates a strong patient and customer focused philosophy in all interactions Possess the ability to implement strategies that effectively facilitate change. Demonstrates clinical decision-making and organizational skills Demonstrated commitment to customer service and teamwork Demonstrated individual leadership skills Models behaviour that is aligned with the values of Southlake Health. Southlake Health is fully committed to a culture of belonging and an inclusive environment that encourages every team member to lead within their role, generate innovative ideas that reinforce our mission and goal to create a healthy workplace where our community can thrive. Regular and reliable attendance is an expected requirement of this position. We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier-free. Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants who may require accommodation during the selection process are encouraged to notify the Human Resources Department when contacted for an interview. The People, Culture and Experience team will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process, which will enable you to be assessed fairly and equitably. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) We prioritize a people-first workplace culture which emphasizes equity and inclusion throughout our hiring process. To ensure fairness and transparency, all applications are reviewed and assessed by our dedicated team of recruiters and hiring managers, not by artificial intelligence (AI). We value the unique perspective each candidate brings to our organization. Health & Safety Workplace Responsibilities It is the responsibility of all Southlake Health employees to work safely and promote health and safety in the workplace. Employees must adhere to the duties of workers, as stipulated in Section 28 of the OH&S Act, as well as all Southlake OH&S policies and procedures. Must be able to perform all necessary bona fide duties for the position, as outlined in the position guide. Must review and be capable of performing duties as outlined in the Job Demands Analysis for the position as a condition of offer. Proven ability to attend work regularly as per the Attendance Support Policy. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Southlake Health is fully dedicated to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in our recruitment practices. We welcome candidates who identify with equity-seeking groups, including women, racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and those from the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Any information provided will be kept confidential and used appropriately in our recruitment process. Anti-Oppression/Anti-Racism at Southlake Health Southlake Health is committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of York Region and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals, and from those who can provide different perspectives and contribute to a further diversification of ideas. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your submission. We appreciate your interest in joining Southlake Health! Join the Southlake Health Community! Are you ready to build a meaningful career where you and your work truly make a difference? Join us at Southlake Health, where you’ll collaborate with compassionate, motivated professionals who are committed to caring for our communities every day. We’re proud to be recognized as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2026, one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures for 2025, and one of the World’s Best Hospitals for seven years in a row – recognitions that reflect the strength of our people and our workplace culture. For over 100 years, Southlake Health has been dedicated to building healthy communities through innovative care. While many things have changed over the years, our unwavering pride in our people, place, and performance has stood the test of time. With a passionate family of 6,000 medical professionals, staff, volunteers, and students, we work together every day to deliver exceptional care close to home. We are here for everyone who walks through our doors, no matter where they are in their life journey. Our commitment extends beyond our walls, reaching every community we serve. Driven by our heartfelt dedication, we believe that everyone deserves the best care and the best experience. As we look to the future, our vision remains clear: to grow alongside our communities. This vision is anchored in our commitment to put people first—pushing boundaries and embracing the latest medical advancements while ensuring we meet individuals where they are in life. Every innovation, treatment technique, and interaction is centered on our desire to provide the leading-edge care that patients expect and deserve.