Nursing at CAMH

Nursing care at CAMH is provided by both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs). In addition, nurses also have roles in advanced practice through Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), Acute Care Nurse Practitioners, management and leadership, education and training, policy development and dissemination, research, infection control, and occupational health and safety. Although the majority of nurses work in direct practice and in the inpatient areas, some also work as case managers and many nurses work in ambulatory care areas or in the community. Many of the nurses in the leadership roles also have a status appointment at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing.

CAMH requires that all nurses be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (for more information see www.cno.org). Many nurses also have specialty certification in mental health nursing through the Canadian Nurses Association (www.cna-nurses.ca). Nurses also have the opportunities to participate regularly in centre-wide education initiatives such as Nursing Rounds and also unit specific activities such as case conferences and in-services on a wide variety of topics. In addition, our nurses (particularly the APN's) are encouraged and do participate in international conference presentations. Developing practice and working to the full scope of practice is important for our RNs and RPNs. For example, RPNs give medications and both RNs and RPNs take on the role of Primary Nurse for patients to ensure continuity of care. Nursing care at CAMH is client-centered; nurses work with clients to meet their goals for recovery. CAMH nurses have made an ongoing commitment to strengthen practice and over the next few years we will be developing Program based Nursing Practice Council to support the work of the Central Nursing Council. These councils provide a wonderful forum for nurses to come together to dialogue and reflect on issues critical to practice. They also provide a good forum to develop leadership skills.

Nursing also has a very large role in the education of students - both at the undergraduate and graduate level through our partnerships with the University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing, Ryerson University, York University and their partner community colleges. In a given year, we often have 200-300 graduate and undergraduate students do a placement at the Centre. All the student placements are organized through our education coordinator. Many of our nurses are currently engaged in strengthening their education by working towards their baccalaureate or masters degree and we are delighted to be able to provide baccalaureate classes from Ryerson University on site.

Nursing Research is also an important enterprise at CAMH. While some nurses are actually doing research, others focus on translating the evidence into practice. At the moment we are also recruiting for a "Chair" in Nursing and this position will be critical to strengthening our research abilities and role in the future.

Contact Information

Rani Srivastava
Deputy Chief of Nursing Practice
416 535-8501, Ext. 2006

Anita Martin
Manager, Nursing Education
416 535-8501, Ext. 2073