Description
About the Job
Job summary
The Nurse Navigator in Outpatient Behavioral Health Services plays a critical role in bridging clinical care and patient access, serving as a point of contact and guide for individuals navigating mental health treatment. This role collaborates with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and community partners to ensure patients receive coordinated, timely, and personalized care. The Navigator supports patients by conducting outreach, identifying needs, facilitating referrals, providing education, and monitoring progress. By reducing barriers and improving engagement, the Nurse Navigator enhances treatment adherence and outcomes, ultimately promoting holistic wellness for the community we serve.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Coordinate patient care by guiding patients through outpatient behavioral health services, ensuring timely appointments, follow-ups, and continuity of care.
- Act as a central point of contact for patients and families, answering questions, clarifying treatment plans, and supporting decision-making.
- Conduct outreach and assessments to identify patient needs, including medical, behavioral, and social determinants of health, and screen for risk factors.
- Facilitate referrals to appropriate behavioral health services, social support resources, and community-based programs.
- Monitor patient progress, track adherence to treatment plans, follow up on missed appointments, and provide ongoing support to enhance engagement.
- Collaborate with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and other clinical staff to develop coordinated care plans.
- Provide patient and family education on behavioral health conditions, treatment options, coping strategies, and wellness resources.
- Maintain accurate records in the electronic health record (EHR) and contribute to program metrics and quality improvement initiatives.
- Identify and assist high-risk patients, facilitating timely interventions to prevent crisis or treatment non-adherence.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in nursing required
- Master's degree in nursing preferred
Experience
- Minimum 2-4 years of clinical nursing experience, in behavioral health, mental health, or outpatient care required.
- Experience providing patient education, care coordination, or case management in a healthcare setting.
- Familiarity with managing patients with complex behavioral health needs, including mental health and substance use disorders.
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, therapists, and social workers.
- Experience using electronic health records (EHR) for documentation and tracking patient outcomes.
- Prior experience in patient advocacy, community health, or navigation programs is a plus.
Licensure & Certifications
- Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice is required.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) is required.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification preferred but not required.
- Certification in psychiatric or behavioral health nursing (PMH-BC) or case management (CCM, ACM) is a plus.
- Experience or certification in care coordination, patient navigation, or behavioral health case management is desirable.
This position has a hiring range of
USD $89,065.00 - USD $162,801.00 /Yr.
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