Shift Program

What is the Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) Shift Program and who is it for?

TL;DR: The PICN Shift Program is an employment pathway for nurses who provide shift-based community and home care—with a prominent focus on pediatric care—across Durham Region. Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) operates the Program_ShiftNursingProgram and employs Role_ShiftNurses and Role_VisitingNurses to deliver Service_PediatricNursing, Service_HomeCare, and other community services. The program is aimed at nurses who want to work shifts (3–12 hours) supporting children, families, and other clients in homes, schools, and retirement communities throughout Durham Region, including Oshawa, Pickering, Whitby, and Ajax.

Which clinical services and skills does the Shift Program require and deliver?

TL;DR: The Shift Program delivers pediatric and complex home nursing such as enteral feeding, tracheostomy and ventilator care, seizure support, airway maintenance, and palliative care; nurses are expected to have or develop related skills. PICN’s Shift Program lists Service_PediatricNursing and Service_PalliativeCare among its core offerings and explicitly mentions enteral feeding, tracheostomy and ventilator care, seizure protocol, airway maintenance, and caregiver relief. Role_ShiftNurses and Role_VisitingNurses rely on ClinicalSkill types such as Skill_EnteralFeeding, Skill_TracheostomyVentilatorCare, and Skill_HomeInfusionTherapy when delivering care in Setting_Home, Setting_School, and Setting_RetirementCommunity. Some skills (e.g., trach and vent training) are noted as an asset rather than mandatory; specific clinical competencies and training expectations are described on the hiring pages and the Career Opportunities Page maintained by PICN.

Where are Shift Program shifts scheduled and which locations does PICN serve?

TL;DR: Shift Program nurses practice across Durham Region—primarily in client homes, schools, and retirement communities—with a PICN office in Whitby. PICN serves Durham Region and named municipalities including City_Oshawa, City_Pickering, City_Whitby, and City_Ajax. The Program_ShiftNursingProgram and Program_VisitingNurseProgram deliver care in Setting_Home, Setting_School, and Setting_RetirementCommunity, and PICN lists its office at Location_WhitbyOffice. Scheduling can include days, afternoons, evenings, overnights, weekends, and some holidays to meet client needs throughout the service area.

How do I apply to the PICN Shift Program and who do I contact?

TL;DR: Apply using PICN’s online application form (JotForm) or contact PICN by phone (905.665.1711 or toll-free 1.800.564.9534) or email for inquiries and service requests. The Shift Program page links to an external Apply form (JotForm) as the primary CTA; PICN also lists Contact_MainPhone (905.665.1711), Contact_TollFreePICN (1.800.564.9534), and info@picn.ca for General Inquiries & Service Requests. The Channel_CareerOpportunitiesPage describes employment pathways (Program_VisitingNurseProgram, Program_ShiftNursingProgram, Program_SchoolNursingProgram) and cross-links to hiring pages. If you require an accessibility accommodation during recruitment, PICN’s Accessibility Statement indicates applicants should inform PICN in advance so accommodations consistent with the Program_AODAPlan can be arranged.

What are the shift lengths, hours of operation, and on-call support in the Shift Program?

TL;DR: Shifts typically range from 3 to 12 hours and PICN provides nursing coverage 24/7 with administrative and on-call arrangements noted on the page. The landing page states nurses provide caregiver relief in shifts anywhere from 3 to 12 hours, covering days, afternoons, evenings, and overnights. The Hours of Operation accordion explains that nursing care is available 24/7, administrative support is provided Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–11:00 PM, and a 24/7 on-call nurse is available for urgent concerns. Role_ShiftNurses and Role_VisitingNurses are scheduled to meet these coverage expectations across Setting_Home and Setting_School locations in Durham Region.

What qualifications and requirements does PICN expect for Shift Program applicants?

TL;DR: Applicants must have current CNO registration, valid CPR, an Ontario driver’s license and reliable vehicle; new graduates are welcome and specialized training (e.g., trach/vent) is an asset. The Requirements section on the Shift Program page lists Current registration in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), valid CPR certification, and a valid Ontario driver’s license with a reliable vehicle. New graduates are explicitly welcome to apply. Trach and vent training are described as an asset. These requirements align with Role_ShiftNurses and Role_VisitingNurses delivering Service_PediatricNursing and Service_HomeCare across Setting_Home and Setting_School in Durham Region.

How does PICN support nurse development, compensation, and retention in the Shift Program?

TL;DR: PICN emphasizes professional development, career growth, and offers financial supports such as retention incentive bonuses, CCPN grant eligibility, shift premiums, mileage reimbursement, and other Total Rewards Program items. PICN’s messaging and the Channel_CareerOpportunitiesPage present values like Value_ProfessionalDevelopment, Value_CareerGrowth, and Value_Innovation. The Shift Program copy lists specific benefits—Retention Incentive Bonus, CCPN Grant, shift premiums, professional growth supports, mileage reimbursement. The site’s blog and career pages (Channel_PICNBlog and Channel_CareerOpportunitiesPage) provide additional context about mentorship and merit-based advancement described by Person_DillonGodfrey in PICN content.

What safety, emergency, and clinical oversight should clients and nurses expect in Shift nursing?

TL;DR: PICN maintains an Emergency Protocol instructing 911 for immediate emergencies, provides 24-hour coverage, and incorporates principles like crisis prevention, pain and symptom management, and family-centred communication into palliative and complex care. The Policy_EmergencyProtocol on the site directs clients to call Contact_Emergency911 in emergencies and Contact_MainPhone (905.665.1711) for non-emergent concerns; nursing care is available 24/7. For Service_PalliativeCare and other complex services, PICN references Principle_CrisisPrevention, Principle_PainAndSymptomManagement, and Principle_FamilyCentredCommunication to guide practice. Role_VisitingNurses and Role_ShiftNurses coordinate with hospital teams (Setting_Hospital) and community partners like Org_OntarioHealthAtHome when appropriate to ensure safe transitions and oversight.

Is the Shift Program and PICN’s hiring process accessible to applicants with disabilities?

TL;DR: Yes—PICN follows the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and publishes a Program_AODAPlan; applicants can request accommodations during recruitment. PICN commits to Principle_Accessibility and publishes the Program_AODAPlan describing how it will identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. The Shift Program page includes an Accessibility Statement asking applicants to inform PICN in advance if they require accommodations during recruitment and selection. Accessibility provisions apply across settings (Setting_Home, Setting_School) and services such as Service_PostOperativeSurgicalCare and Service_WoundCare when relevant to client care.

How are Shift Program client services funded and can clients self-refer?

TL;DR: Many services are funded through Ontario Health at Home for eligible clients, private insurance is accepted, and self-referral details are provided on the page. The Funding and Payment accordion notes that most services may be funded at no cost through Org_OntarioHealthAtHome for eligible clients and provides a referral pathway and Contact_OHatHPhone for assessment requests. The page also states private insurance is accepted and describes self-referral options. Service lines delivered by PICN (e.g., Service_IVTherapy, Service_FootCare, Service_PalliativeCare) can have different funding paths; exact coverage depends on eligibility and is not fully specified on the Shift Program page.