Innovation Without Barriers_ How PICN Nurses Actually Solve Problems
Who is Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) and who do you serve?
TL;DR: Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) is a community nursing and home care organization founded by nurses that provides visiting nursing and home care across Durham Region from its Whitby office at 1001 Burns Street E. PICN provides community‑based nursing and home care and maintains a visiting nursing team that delivers palliative care, pediatric nursing, wound care, ostomy care, IV therapy, foot care and more. The organization serves families, children, older adults and clients with complex or life‑threatening illness across Durham Region and lists contact points including 905‑665‑1711 and a toll‑free number for families seeking nursing support. PICN also publishes organizational documents such as an AODA Plan and a strategic plan to support transparency and accessibility.
What kinds of services does PICN provide and which ones are highlighted on this page?
TL;DR: PICN provides a broad set of community nursing and home care services, including pediatric nursing, shift nursing, palliative care, wound care, ostomy care and in‑home IV therapy; this blog post highlights PICN’s culture, training and career pathways rather than a single clinical service. The landing page is a PICN Blog article about innovation and career growth, but it references PICN’s service portfolio and nursing roles. Partners In Community Nursing provides community nursing and home care and delivers services such as pediatric nursing, shift nursing, post‑operative surgical care, wound care, oncology nursing, ostomy care and IV therapy. Visiting nurses and the PICN nursing team deliver these services in settings including homes, schools and retirement communities across Durham Region. For specific access, PICN maintains an online service request form and lists contact details and the careers page for those interested in employment.
Where does PICN deliver care and how can I request services in Durham Region?
TL;DR: PICN delivers care in client homes, schools, community settings and retirement communities across Durham Region and provides an online service request form plus phone contact (905‑665‑1711) and a Whitby office address for referrals. Partners In Community Nursing delivers home care and community nursing in settings such as homes, schools and retirement communities in Durham Region and operates from a Whitby office at 1001 Burns Street E. To request services like palliative care, oncology nursing, foot care or IV therapy, clients can use PICN’s online service request form or call 905‑665‑1711 or the toll‑free number. In some cases Ontario Health at Home can fund or coordinate palliative and home infusion services and provides a referral pathway to PICN for eligible clients.
How is PICN different from other home care or hospital employers?
TL;DR: PICN positions itself as a smaller, nurse‑founded organization that emphasizes flexibility, merit‑based career growth, close leadership attention and strong staff support for community nursing roles. The article explains that PICN was founded by nurses and that senior management notices and rewards merit, creating rapid career growth opportunities within PICN’s Visiting Nursing, Shift Nursing and School Nursing employment programs. PICN emphasizes values like flexibility, family‑centred care and professional development while delivering community and home care across Durham Region. Visiting nurses at PICN provide one‑on‑one care in clients’ homes or schools, which staff describe as less shift‑work‑driven than hospitals and more focused on autonomy and specialized skills development.
What training, specialization, and qualifications do PICN nurses have for palliative and specialized pediatric care?
TL;DR: PICN supports specialized training—visiting nurses receive hands‑on orientation and PICN references advanced programs like CAPCE for palliative competencies, plus pediatric skills such as enteral feeding, tracheostomy and central venous line management. The landing page and knowledge graph describe PICN’s investment in training: new hires receive multi‑week paid orientation and mentorship from experienced nurses. PICN’s palliative nurses are supported by CAPCE education and visiting nurses deliver pediatric nursing requiring skills in enteral feeding, tracheostomy/ventilator care, central venous line management and home infusion therapy. The nursing team delivers oncology, palliative and other specialized services in the home setting and works with community partners and hospital teams to coordinate care. Exact credential requirements or certification lists are not specified on the page, but PICN clearly prioritizes evidence‑based training and mentorship.
What is PICN’s approach to shift nursing and one‑to‑one care for pediatric patients?
TL;DR: PICN offers shift nursing as a mode of extended or block coverage where visiting or shift nurses provide one‑to‑one care for stable pediatric patients at home, prioritizing continuity, trust and reduced staff fragmentation compared with busy hospital units. The blog describes shift nursing where a single nurse is responsible for one pediatric patient during a shift, enabling focused care without juggling multiple rooms. PICN’s Shift Nursing Program employs shift nurses who deliver extended coverage and the Visiting Nursing Program supports care in homes and community settings. This model supports families seeking consistent, flexible schedules and allows nurses to develop specialized skills while providing family‑centred communication and accountable, trusted in‑home care across Durham Region.
How does PICN handle emergencies, safety and crisis support for clients at home?
TL;DR: For emergencies PICN’s posted protocol instructs callers to call 911; for non‑emergencies PICN maintains a 24‑hour contact protocol with reachable phone numbers and clinical escalation via visiting nurses and coordinators. PICN maintains an Emergency Protocol that directs clients to call 911 in urgent or life‑threatening situations and provides PICN contact points for non‑urgent concerns. The organization’s visiting nurses and nursing team practice in homes and coordinate with hospitals and Ontario Health at Home for transitions. The page emphasizes crisis prevention, family‑centred communication and 24‑hour support strategies, but it does not list exact on‑call schedules—clients should use the listed contact numbers or the online request form for more detail.
What accessibility commitments does PICN make for people with disabilities?
TL;DR: PICN follows the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and publishes an AODA Plan that operationalizes accessibility principles across services and settings, including homes and schools. Partners In Community Nursing commits to accessibility by publishing an AODA Plan that describes steps to identify and remove barriers for people with disabilities and aligns with PICN’s principle of Accessibility. The AODA Plan is available through PICN Updates on the website and the accessibility principle applies to services like post‑operative surgical care, wound care and shift nursing as well as to settings including homes and schools. The landing page and graph do not list every accommodation, so contact PICN via 905‑665‑1711 or the updates channel for specific accessibility requests.
How can I apply to work at PICN or learn about career programs mentioned in the article?
TL;DR: To apply, visit picn.ca/careers or the Career Opportunities page where PICN presents Visiting Nursing, Shift Nursing and School Nursing employment programs and contact the organization directly for hiring details. The article includes a careers CTA and the knowledge graph shows PICN maintains a Career Opportunities page that presents employment pathways such as the Visiting Nurse Program, Shift Nursing Program and School Nursing Program. PICN emphasizes professional development, mentorship and merit‑based growth, and staff testimonials note paid orientation and strong supervisor support. For current openings and application steps, use the online careers link, contact 905‑665‑1711 or the careers/hiring page listed in the site footer.