About The Position
The Behavioral & Developmental Triage Nurse provides specialized clinical triage and care coordination for patients and families receiving services through the Pediatric Behavioral & Developmental specialty clinic at Pediatric CMS. The nurse is a primary clinical resource for families, providers, schools, and community partners, providing timely telephone triage, medication-related support, care coordination, and follow-up. The position provides Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. specialty clinic triage coverage and supports safe, efficient management of behavioral, developmental, and medication-related concerns. The role includes assessing behavioral and developmental concerns and changes in symptoms, reviewing medication issues and refill requests, coordinating prior authorizations and provider follow-up, conducting post-discharge follow-up, supporting appointments and care transitions, and assisting families with school-related documentation and education. The nurse must recognize and appropriately escalate urgent and high-risk situations, including suicidal ideation, self-harm, acute behavioral or psychiatric deterioration, significant medication reactions, and other concerns requiring immediate evaluation. The nurse follows Pediatric CMS policies, triage protocols, and emergency procedures to support patient safety and timely escalation.
Requirements
- Current LPN licensure and eligibility to practice in the State of Florida.
- AHA or Red Cross Basic Life Support (CPR) certification is required or must be obtained within the first 90 days of employment; certification must be maintained.
- Successfully complete a medication test within 30 days of hire.
- Strong clinical assessment, telephone triage, communication, and care coordination skills.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent requests while maintaining appropriate prioritization and timely follow-up.
- Ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with children, adolescents, families, schools, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
- Ability to recognize and appropriately respond to behavioral health and patient safety concerns, including suicidal ideation and self-harm.
Nice To Haves
- Pediatric nursing experience.
- Experience with behavioral health, developmental pediatrics, psychiatry, or specialty clinic triage.
- Knowledge of medication management processes, prescription refills, and prior authorizations.
Responsibilities
- Provide Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. telephone triage for patients and families followed by the Behavioral & Developmental specialty clinic.
- Assess and triage behavioral and developmental concerns, symptom changes, medication reactions or side effects, and other clinical concerns.
- Provide nursing guidance based on established protocols and clinical judgment.
- Identify urgent or emergent concerns and facilitate escalation to the appropriate provider, emergency services, or level of care.
- Assess and triage self-harm, suicidal ideation, and other safety concerns, coordinating risk escalation with the clinical team and emergency resources when indicated.
- Communicate with patients, parents and caregivers, providers, and other members of the care team.
- Review and process prescription refill requests in accordance with clinic protocols.
- Review medication questions and concerns, including potential adverse reactions and side effects, and coordinate provider follow-up.
- Assist with medication prior authorizations by gathering clinical information and coordinating with providers, pharmacies, and insurance plans.
- Support medication-related care coordination and communication among families, pharmacies, and the specialty care team.
- Conduct post-discharge follow-up calls for patients recently discharged from inpatient or other higher levels of care, as directed by clinic protocols.
- Assess ongoing needs, medication and safety concerns, and barriers to follow-up after discharge.
- Communicate significant post-discharge findings to the appropriate provider and facilitate timely follow-up.
- Reinforce discharge instructions and help families navigate the transition to outpatient specialty care.
- Assist families with coordinating specialty appointments and follow-up care.
- Help facilitate scheduling and coordination for specialty evaluations and services, including CARS, CADE, and other Behavioral & Developmental clinic services.
- Identify barriers to care and communicate with appropriate staff to support timely access to services.
- Coordinate communication among providers and other members of the multidisciplinary care team as appropriate.
- Assist with school-related forms and documentation within the scope of the role and clinic processes.
- Provide families with education, resources, and guidance related to behavioral and developmental care.
- Help families understand care plans, follow-up recommendations, and available community or educational resources.
- Follow Pediatric CMS policies, triage protocols, and emergency procedures, and ensure timely provider notification or escalation for high-risk clinical situations.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
