Behavioral Health Nurse Case Manager

Pay Range:

Pay Range:$38.93 - $54.76

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

This position functions within the Behavioral Health Division under the direction of the psychiatry medical staff to clinically manage a panel of patients focused on skill-building, guidance, psychoeducation, supportive counseling, coaching, and strength-based encouragement for individuals experiencing behavioral health disorders or experiencing serious mental illness. The position also assists patient with medication refills, referrals, triage, and patient education.

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Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job

• Clinical Skills:

  • Meets individually with assigned panel of patients to monitor medication side effects, compliance, and progress toward treatment goals and objectives.

  • Maintains accurate and timely documentation of services is accordance with SEARHC policy.

  • Provides coaching, guidance, support, and encouragement using a strength-based approach toward recovery as described in the patient treatment plan.

  • Provides individual and family education, training and support with self-help skills that promote wellness, stability, and self-sufficiency as described in the patient treatment plan.

  • Facilitates medical care for patients in Behavioral Health/Psychiatry Service.

  • Facilitates medication refills between patients, physician, pharmacy, and insurances.

  • Provides nurse case management to identify and obtain appropriate medical/therapeutic information in preparation for prescriber visits.

  • Provides patient education and refers to physician as appropriate.

  • Conducts medication injections, and when indicated, injections, and lab collection. 

  • Coordinates care plans with primary care and specialties.

  • Develops and manages individualized treatment plans for assigned caseload.

• Case Management:

  • Provides culturally sensitive, systematic mental health/SUD nursing care that reflects contemporary nursing practice and the patient’s health care/treatment plan.

  • Utilizes multiple brief patient contacts to provide education that reinforce plans of care.

  • Identifies situations where additional services would benefit the patient and communicates closely with clinicians, both medical and behavioral; identifies situations beyond nursing scope of practice and seek appropriate clinician direction.

• Clinic Support Activities:

  • Researches patient education material.

  • Researches equipment as needed and work with biomedical services to ensure clinic equipment is maintained. 

Other Functions

• Other duties as assigned.

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required

• Active nursing license in Alaska or other U.S. state required.  Direct Hire must have applied for an Alaska nursing license at time of hire.  Agency staff must have an active Alaska license.

• OR An LPN license with 5+ years of specific Behavioral Health experience.

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire and every three years

• BLS required

Experience Required

• At least 6 months’ nurse case management experience.

• Experience with mental health care, SUD, and medical primary care phone triage – preferred.

Knowledge of

• Medications, disease processes, and the ability to utilize information resources.

• How to access systems related to psychiatric/SUD patient care both within and outside of SEARHC.

Skills in

• Effective communication and ability to interact with patients and staff.

• Performing a nursing assessment.

• Documenting appropriately following federal, state, and accrediting organization guidelines.

• Educating patients and family members about diagnoses, treatment plans, risks, options, and medication.

Ability to

• Recognize the acuity of a situation and seek an appropriate plan and level of care.

• Individualize education in a manner that is meaningful to each patient.

• Communicate with patients who may have challenges related to comprehension and mood.

• Carefully listen to patients and families

• Efficiently utilize electronic medical record and other clinically required technology.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.

• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must lift and/or move 50 lbs.

Required Certifications:

Clinical Competency Assessment - SEARHC, Registered Nurse License - State of Alaska - Alaska State Board of Nursing

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!