Pediatric Behavioral Health LPN - Triage & Care

UF Health; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

UF Health is seeking a Behavioral & Developmental Triage Nurse (LPN) to provide telephone triage and care coordination for patients in the Pediatric Behavioral & Developmental clinic. You will assess behavioral and developmental concerns, guide families, and coordinate with providers and schools.

Responsibilities include managing medication questions, prior authorizations, and post-discharge follow-up, with a focus on safety and timely escalation when needed.

Qualifications

• LPN with current licensure.
• Pediatric nursing experience preferred.
• Experience with behavioral health, developmental pediatrics, psychiatry, or specialty clinic triage preferred.
• Strong clinical assessment, telephone triage, communication, and care coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent requests while maintaining prioritization and timely follow-up.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with children, families, schools, and healthcare teams.
• Knowledge of medication management, prescription refills, and prior authorizations preferred.
• Ability to recognize and respond to behavioral health and patient safety concerns, including suicidal ideation and self-harm.

Responsibilities

• Provide Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. telephone triage for patients and families of the Pediatric Behavioral & Developmental clinic.
• Assess and triage behavioral and developmental concerns, changes in symptoms, medication reactions or side effects, and other clinical concerns.
• Provide nursing guidance based on protocols and clinical judgment.
• Identify urgent or emergent concerns and escalate to the appropriate provider or emergency services.
• Coordinate with the clinical team and emergency resources for safety concerns including self-harm.
• Review and process prescription refill requests per clinic protocols.
• Assist with medication prior authorizations and coordinate with providers, pharmacies, and insurers.
• Conduct soon post-discharge follow-up calls and assess ongoing needs and barriers to follow-up.
• Assist families with coordinating specialty appointments and service evaluations.
• Support school and family education, resources, and care plan navigation.
• Recognize high-risk situations and escalate per policy and procedures.

Skills

LPN licensure

Pediatric nursing

Behavioral health

Telephone triage

Care coordination

Communication

Assessment

Medication management

Education

Florida LPN licensure

Job description

Overview

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. This role serves as a primary clinical resource for families, providers, schools, and community partners by 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 the safe, efficient management of behavioral, developmental, and medication-related concerns.

Responsibilities

Clinical & Telephone Triage

• 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, changes in symptoms, medication reactions or side effects, and other clinical concerns.
• Provide appropriate nursing guidance based on established protocols and clinical judgment.
• Identify urgent or emergent concerns and facilitate timely escalation to the appropriate provider, emergency services, or level of care.
• Provide specialized assessment and triage for self-harm, suicidal ideation, and other safety concerns, including appropriate risk escalation and coordination with the clinical team and emergency resources when indicated.
• Communicate effectively with patients, parents/caregivers, providers, and other members of the care team.

Medication Management Support

• Review and process prescription refill requests in accordance with clinic protocols.
• Review medication-related questions and concerns, including potential adverse reactions and side effects, and coordinate appropriate provider follow-up.
• Assist with medication prior authorizations (PAs), including gathering required clinical information and coordinating with providers, pharmacies, and insurance plans.
• Support medication-related care coordination and communication between families, pharmacies, and the specialty care team.

Post-Discharge & Follow-Up

• Conduct soon 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 concerns, safety concerns, and barriers to follow-up.
• Communicate significant findings to the appropriate provider and facilitate timely follow-up when needed.
• Reinforce discharge instructions and help families navigate the transition back to outpatient specialty care.

Care Coordination & Appointment Support

• 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.

School & Family Support

• Assist with school-related forms and documentation within the scope of the role and clinic processes.
• Provide families with appropriate education, resources, and guidance related to behavioral and developmental care.
• Help families understand care plans, follow-up recommendations, and available community or educational resources.

Clinical Safety & Escalation

The Behavioral & Developmental Triage Nurse is responsible for recognizing and appropriately escalating high-risk clinical situations, including:

• Suicidal ideation or suspected suicide risk
• Self-harm or threats of self-harm
• Acute behavioral or psychiatric deterioration
• Significant medication reactions or adverse effects
• Other urgent clinical concerns requiring immediate evaluation

The nurse will follow established Pediatric CMS policies, triage protocols, and emergency procedures to ensure patient safety and timely provider notification or escalation.

Qualifications

• LPN with current licensure.
• Pediatric nursing experience preferred.
• Experience with behavioral health, developmental pediatrics, psychiatry, or specialty clinic triage preferred.
• Strong clinical assessment, telephone triage, communication, and care coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent requests while maintaining appropriate prioritization and timely follow-up.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with children, adolescents, families, schools, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Knowledge of medication management processes, prescription refills, and prior authorizations preferred.
• Ability to recognize and appropriately respond to behavioral health and patient safety concerns, including suicidal ideation and self-harm.

Licensure/Certification/Registration:

• Current Licensed LPN eligible to practice in the State of Florida.
• Florida is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) Act. AHA or Red Cross Basic Life Support (CPR) is required or must be obtained within first 90 days of employment. Must maintain current Basic Life Support (CPR). Must successfully complete medication test within 30 days of hire.