Nurse Navigator, RN – Spine, Pain & Surgical Care

Summit Surgical • Hutchinson, KS

5d

About The Position

Summit is hiring a Nurse Navigator for a new, expanded role at a small, physician-owned surgical hospital. The position guides patients across the Spine and Pain clinic and surgical programs, with responsibility for resolving barriers to care and contributing to the development of the role. It also serves as Lead RN for BreakThru, Summit’s medically managed withdrawal program.

The Nurse Navigator supports patients from referral through treatment and recovery, coordinates surgical care transitions and post-discharge follow-up, and leads clinical coordination and aftercare planning for the withdrawal program. The role works across clinic, hospital, and community settings and collaborates with physicians, patients, families, clinical staff, and community partners.

Requirements

• Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Kansas, or eligibility for licensure by endorsement.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• At least two years of clinical nursing experience.
• Strong clinical assessment, critical-thinking, and clinical decision-making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and patient education skills, including the ability to engage compassionately with patients experiencing substance use disorders and complex surgical recovery.
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, withdrawal physiology, and evidence-based withdrawal management protocols.
• Familiarity with or ability to quickly learn CMS bundled payment models, value-based care concepts, and care coordination methodologies.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency with electronic health records (EHR) and clinical documentation systems.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities across two program areas simultaneously.
• Commitment to patient confidentiality, dignity, and non-judgmental, trauma-informed care.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) or similar certification.
• Experience in medical/surgical nursing, behavioral health, substance use treatment, or care coordination.

Responsibilities

• Guide Spine and Pain patients from referral through evaluation, treatment, and follow-up.
• Identify and resolve delays related to records, imaging, authorizations, scheduling, and missed appointments.
• Partner with providers and clinic staff to improve patient flow and access.
• Identify and follow qualifying surgical patients from pre-operative care through 90 days after discharge.
• Coordinate care transitions with patients, families, surgeons, case managers, and post-acute providers.
• Conduct post-discharge outreach to address care gaps and help prevent complications and readmissions.
• Support quality data, documentation, and performance improvement, and serve as the team’s CMS TEAM resource.
• Serve as BreakThru’s clinical lead and point of contact.
• Complete nursing assessments using standardized tools, including CIWA-Ar and COWS.
• Collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, social workers, and community partners on patient-centered care.
• Develop aftercare and discharge plans and build relationships with referral partners.
• Follow up with patients at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months to support recovery and track outcomes.
• Educate patients, families, and staff and support program quality improvement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Associate degree