Nurse Practitioner - Bariatric Clinic;

Career Opportunities: Nurse Practitioner - Bariatric Clinic )

Requisition  
-Posted
- Nursing

Title: Nurse Practitioner - Bariatric Clinic

Department: Bariatric Clinic

Pay Band: $67.07-$76.29

Hours of Work: Full-Time Position, Day Shift

The NP role is grounded in the four core domains of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership, education, and research. The Nurse Practitioner (RN(EC)) is a clinical member of the Bariatric Centre of Excellence (BCoE) interdisciplinary team at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

The NP provides comprehensive advanced practice care within both the surgical and medical programs at the Kingston BCoE. This includes comprehensive assessment and staging of the severity of the chronic disease of obesity and management of obesity-related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipedemia, as part of the overall care of patients living with obesity. The role is primarily clinical, with additional responsibilities in education, quality improvement, and program evaluation.

The NP fosters a respectful, patient centred environment and promotes a culture of compassionate, stigma-free care for individuals living with obesity. The NP participates in departmental, organizational, and professional activities that support program and corporate priorities, and practices in accordance with the standards and professional obligations of the College of nurses of Ontario. Care is delivered in alignment with the hospital’s vision, values, and applicable professional standards.

The NP functions as the primary prescribing clinician within the BCoE team, supporting timely, patient-centred clinical decision making across the full spectrum of behavioural, pharmacological and surgical care of patients living with obesity. bariatric care continuum:
This includes pre-operative optimization for metabolic bariatric surgery, including initiation, adjustment, and monitoring of pharmacotherapy to treat the chronic disease of obesity. It also include post-operative follow-up. The NP also supports the medical program within the Kingston BCoE, which includes helping patients achieve a healthier state of wellness by providing knowledge and life skills to change their eating and coping behaviours, and develop alternative lifestyles that promote healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy living.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES INCLUDE :

Advanced Clinical Assessment and Patient Management

• Conducts comprehensive medical assessments of patients living with obesity within the metabolic bariatric surgery and medical weight management programs at the Kingston BCoE including history, physical examination, requesting and interpreting diagnostic test results.
• Identifies, assesses, and manages obesity-related comorbidities and complex medical conditions in patients pre and post metabolic bariatric surgery.
• Performs pre-operative risk stratification, and optimization of obesity-related comorbidities prior to metabolic bariatric surgery.
• Provides post-operative assessments and management of complications post metabolic bariatric surgery (e.g., reactive hypoglycemia, nutritional deficiencies, food intolerance, and surgical complications)
• Manages patients within the medical weight management program, providing ongoing management of obesity-related comorbidities across the program continuum
• Provides comprehensive clinical assessments and management within NP scope of practice, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team (metabolic bariatric surgeons, RD, SW, etc).

Care Coordination and Interprofessional Collaboration

• Collaborates with metabolic bariatric surgeons, endocrinologists, internal medicine physicians, primary care providers, and members of the interdisciplinary team at Kingston BCoE to support coordinated, patient-centred care and transitions of care
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds, case conferences, and program planning meetings
• Refers patients to appropriate consultations with other health care providers and initiates specialty consultations as required

Patient and Family Education

• Provides education to patients and their families on chronic disease of obesity, health promotion, and disease prevention across the care continuum
• Develops, reviews, and evaluates patient education materials and programs

Program Development, Quality, and Professional Practice

• Contributes clinical expertise to program development, quality improvement initiatives, and development/revision of protocols and medical directives
• Follows evidence-based care, guidelines and best practice recommendations for managing patients living with obesity
• Participates in teaching and education for staff, learners, and interdisciplinary team members
• Engages in ongoing professional development and maintains clinical competence
• Participates in committees and relevant professional associations as appropriate

Additional Clinical and Professional Responsibilities

• Provides clinical management within NP scope of practice, including management of common medical and…