Clinical Nurse-Navigator - Spine Population

Location: On-site at Methodist Hospital

Position: Clinical Nurse - Navigator - Spine Population 

Shift: Monday – Friday 1.0 FTE (40 hours weekly) 

The Clinical Nurse - Navigator coordinates the care needs of spine patients and develops comprehensive plans to manage care delivery across the patient care continuum. Partners with spine patients and their primary physicians to develop customized care plans based on individual needs and preferences. Collaborate with physicians, nurses, health professionals, social workers, and others to ensure appropriate tests and treatments are delivered in a timely fashion. Acts as an advocate for the patient, balancing care needs and financial considerations to ensure efficient and effective treatments.

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Position Overview: 

The Clinical Nurse - Navigator plays a vital role in coordinating patient care, developing personalized care plans, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to optimize treatment delivery. The role emphasizes patient advocacy, care management, and efficient resource utilization, ensuring a seamless continuum of care tailored to each patient's unique needs.

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Key Responsibilities: 

• Readmission reduction: Identify high-risk patients, address discharge barriers, reinforce education, confirm follow-up, complete post-discharge outreach within 1–2 business days, and escalate red flags to prevent avoidable ED use or readmission.
• Length of stay support: Participate in huddles and rounds, identify discharge delays, coordinate with care teams, and help resolve barriers that extend inpatient stay.
• Mortality support and escalation: Monitor patients through rounding, chart review, discharge readiness checks, and outreach to identify concerns early and escalate to providers.
• Navigator responsibilities: Complete preoperative review, coordinate education and clearances, support discharge and care transitions, arrange follow-up, advocate for patients, and track quality and operational metrics.

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Qualifications & Requirements: 

• Education: 

  - Associates of Nursing (ASN) required. 

  - Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) preferred. 

• Licensure & Certifications: 

  - Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Indiana or Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) RN license. 

  - Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA). 

  - Additional advanced life support certifications may be required per department policies. 

  - Specialty certifications may be required depending on department/provision of care. 

• Experience & Knowledge: 

  - 3-5 years of clinical work experience preferred. 

  - Knowledge of personal computers, word processing, and database software. 

  - Understanding of medical terminology, medical record requirements, regulations, and policies. 

  - Spine population experience preferred. 

  - Care Coordinator skillset preferred.

  - Inpatient experience preferred. 

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Why Join IU Health? 

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits 

• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development 

• Supportive environment committed to clinical excellence and staff empowerment 

• Work in a dynamic, patient-centered setting with a focus on safety and quality 

To learn more about our benefits, visit: careers.iuhealth.org/pages/benefits-designed-for-you