Behavioral Health Patient Navigator

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Job ID: JR-104547
Entity: The Miriam Hospital
Location Name: The Miriam Hospital
City, State: Providence, RI
Work Type: FULL TIME
Hours Per Week: 36
Shift: Evening
Posted Date: 1/13/2026

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.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include:

Instill Trust and Value Differences
Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate

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
Facilitating therapeutic interventions and attainment of desired patient outcomes
Ensuring the team is kept appraised of a patient’s condition, coordinating resources, and serving as a liaison between the psychiatry liaison team, community health agencies, providers, emergency department leaders, and staff to deliver high quality, individualized care
Providing appropriate patient and family education and counseling in accordance with departmental guidelines
Documenting patient’s progress, compliance, and other essential information in the medical record
Ensuring patient’s care team, primary care, and/or sub-specialty providers are provided timely information on patient’s progress and additional needs
Assisting to coordinate appropriate inpatient, outpatient, and home services with providers
Maintaining ongoing communication with patient/family as necessary
Participating in quality improvement processes, risk management activities, and attending unit-based and hospital meetings to facilitate patient care management
Providing routine staff education and staff feedback, serving as a resource to enhance behavioral health care
Participating in completing behavioral health risk assessments, maintaining regulatory compliance, in quality improvement projects and de-escalation activities
Functioning in a cooperative and productive manner in the work environment
Performing other related duties of professional nurse

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Licensure as Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing or licensure as a Registered Nurse in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

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 department’s policies and practices. Refers specific complex problems to the Director when clarification of departmental policies and procedures are required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

None.

PAY RANGE

$77,230.40 - $154,460.80

EEO STATEMENT

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.