Behavioral Health Patient Navigator

Summary:

The Nurse Navigator reports to the Director of Emergency Services and is responsible for coordinating patient care activities for behavioral health patients in the emergency department. Patient navigation refers to the assistance offered to patients to help them access and then chart a course through the healthcare system and overcome any barriers to quality care. The behavioral health nurse navigator is a registered nurse who functions as the guide who will assist patients and their families move through the complexities of the healthcare system. The candidate will function as a point person for patients during their emergency department experience.

Responsibilities:

Assumes key role in assuring care on a continuum coordinating diverse resources and patient care activities for individuals receiving patient-centered behavioral health care in the emergency department (ED). Acts as the point person for patients and families/caregivers throughout their ED experience collaborating with staff and resource providers to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system ensuring timely and appropriate quality care.

Key responsibilities include: Working collaboratively with the interprofessional team to ensure an evidence-based plan of behavioral health care that is coordinated with any required medical care; building relationships with community resources and contacts (i.e. other hospitals treatment centers and state agencies) and assisting patients to gain access/referrals to those services/resources; educating patients/caregivers to assist with understanding illness treatment and follow-up.

The behavioral health nurse navigator serves as the point person working collaboratively with the interprofessional team to facilitate therapeutic interventions and attainment of desired patient outcomes.

Ensures the team is kept appraised of a patients condition coordinates resources serves as a liaison between the psychiatry liaison team community health agencies providers emergency department leaders and staff to delivery high quality individualized care.

Provides for appropriate patient and family education and counseling in accordance with departmental guidelines.

Documents patients progress compliance and other essential information in the medical record. Ensures patients care team primary care and/or sub-specialty providers are provided timely information on patients progress and additional needs.

Assist to coordinate appropriate inpatient outpatient and home services with providers.

Maintains ongoing communication with patient/family as necessary.

Participates in quality improvement processes risk management activities. Attends unit based and hospital meetings to facilitate patient care management.

Provides routine staff education and staff feedback serving as a resource to enhance behavioral health care.

Participates in completing behavioral health risk assessments maintaining regulatory compliance in quality improvement projects and de-escalation activities.

Functions in a cooperative and productive manner in the work environment.

Performs other related duties of professional nurse.

Other information:

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

Graduate of a Baccalaureate School of Nursing preferred

Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island

BLS certification through AHA

Understanding of the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Rhode Island.

Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients with consideration of aging processes human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

EXPERIENCE:

Behavioral health care experience required.
Compassionate professional and analytical skills in evaluating patients in order to plan provide patient care monitor the care management process and treatment plan for each patient.

Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences including professional staff patients community and other service agencies.

Interpersonal skills to allay anxiety elicit cooperation and provide for education of patients/families and to effectively function as a member of the healthcare team to coordinate and discuss patient care activities.

Advanced skill in assessment of physical and psychosocial health-illness status of individuals history taking and physical assessment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Acute patient care environment with exposure to infectious diseases. Hazards are minimized by adherence to established safety precautions.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

Performs independently within the departments policies and practices. Refers specific complex problems to the Director when clarification of departmental policies and procedures are required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.