RN - Access Center (Casual Call, Variable Shift)

Bozeman Health; Bozeman (MT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bozeman Health is seeking an experienced RN for the Access Center to centralize and simplify patient placement for internal clinics, Bozeman Health ED, and external referrals. The role requires clinical expertise in inpatient criteria, insurance and reimbursement processes, and cross‑department coordination.

Responsibilities include evaluating requests, gathering information, and collaborating with physicians and facilities to match resources, ensuring compliance and timely transfers.

Qualifications

• Current Montana Licensure as a Registered Nurse.
• AHA BLS certification.
• AHA ACLS certification within 60 days of start date.
• AHA PALS certification within 60 days of start date.
• Two years of acute care medical/surgical RN experience.

Responsibilities

• Receives and processes intake for inpatient placement; centralizes triage and placement factors.
• Gathers information to identify plan of care, acuity, and payer source.
• Assists physicians in matching resources to patient needs while ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Facilitates timely transfers when appropriate and coordinates with the Access Center.
• Collaborates with internal/external resources to improve patient care and community health.
• Maintains availability and responds to calls, email, and pages promptly.

Skills

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Professional judgment

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Montana RN license

AHA BLS

AHA ACLS (within 60 days)

AHA PALS (within 60 days)

2 years acute care RN experience

BSN (preferred)

Job description

The RN - Access Center functions as a clinical expert to centralize and simplify the process of providing the appropriate level of patient care for internal and external providers. Receives and coordinates the processing of internal (clinics, non-scene Med Flight, or Bozeman Health ED) and external sources (referring MDs, hospitals, institutions, prisons, or outside EDs) for actual or potential inpatient placement. Evaluates request for health care services and also acts as a liaison to all referral sources relative to inpatient patient placement. Demonstrates expertise in acute care criteria for inpatient hospitalization, alternative health care options, health care insurance and reimbursement processes, and a working knowledge of BH Hospital operations.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Current Montana Licensure (Registered Nurse)
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification within sixty (60) days of start date.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification within sixty (60) days of start date.
• Two (2) years relevant clinical RN experience in acute care medical/surgical nursing.

Preferred

• Recent experience in phone triage, phone processing, discharge planning, or case management
• BSN

Essential Job Functions

In addition to the essential functions of the job listed below, employees must maintain timely completion of all required education, trainings, and certifications as assigned and in accordance with Bozeman Health policies, department-specific requirements, applicable certification program and registry requirements, and other applicable regulatory requirements.

• Receives and processes all incoming requests, working to centralize and simplify the triage, communication, assessment, and placement factors surrounding Access patient care services of Bozeman Health.
• Solicits key pieces of information during the intake process to identify an initial plan of care, i.e., clinical status, level of care needed, payer source.
• Assists internal and external physicians in matching resources to patient’s needs assuring compliance with applicable Federal and State regulations.
• Assists in the expedient transfer of patients out of Bozeman Health when necessary or to a suitable facility if Bozeman Health intake is not appropriate.
• Assists in the development and administration of the Access Center.
• Collaborates with internal, external, and community resources informing and educating constituents to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to positively impact the healthcare of the community.
• Maintains consistent availability throughout the work-day, responding to Access Center and referral source communication via phone, e-mail and pager within a timely interval.
• Demonstrates clinical competence that incorporates policies, procedures, and practices to ensure safe and comprehensive patient care.
• Exhibits sound nursing judgment in the decisions involved in coordinating multiple, complex needs of patients requiring the inpatient care and services of Bozeman Health.
• Demonstrates understanding of differences in cultural, spiritual and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrate sound judgment, patience, and maintain a professional demeanor at all times
• Exercise tact, discretion, sensitivity, and maintains confidentiality
• Perform essential job functions successfully in a fast-paced environment
• Learn current and new computer applications and office equipment utilized at Bozeman Health
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Analyze, organize, and prioritize work while meeting multiple deadlines
• Demonstrate the Bozeman Health SPIRIT values of: Service, People, Integrity, Respect, Improvement, and Teamwork.

Schedule Requirements

• This role requires regular and sustained attendance.
• The position may necessitate working beyond a standard 40-hour workweek, including weekends and after-hours shifts.
• On-call work may be required to respond promptly to organizational, patient, or employee needs.

Physical Requirements

• Lifting (Repeatedly – 50 pounds): Exerting force and/or using a negligible amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects or people.
• Sit (Occasionally): Maintaining a sitting posture for extended periods may include adjusting body position to prevent discomfort or strain.
• Stand (Repeatedly): Maintaining a standing posture for extended periods may include adjusting body position to prevent discomfort or strain.
• Walk (Repeatedly): Walking and moving around within the work area requires good balance and coordination.
• Climb (Rarely): Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like using feet and legs; may also use hands and arms.
• Twist/Bend/Stoop/Kneel (Repeatedly): Twisting, bending, and stooping require flexibility and a wide range of motion in the spine and joints.
• Reach Above Shoulder Level (Repeatedly): Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects as necessary above the shoulder, requiring strength and stability.
• Push/Pull (Repeatedly): Using the upper extremities to press or exert force against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
• Fine-Finger Movements (Continuously): Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than using the whole hand as in handling.
• Vision (Continuously): Close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures and to read computer screens, printed materials, and handwritten materials.
• Cognitive Skills (Continuously): Learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, and make timely decisions in the context of a workflow.
• Exposures (Continuously): Bloodborne pathogens, such as blood, bodily fluids, or tissues. Radiation in settings where medical imaging procedures are performed. Various chemicals and medications are used in healthcare settings. Job tasks may involve handling cleaning products, disinfectants, and other substances. Infectious diseases are caused by contact with patients in areas that may have contagious illnesses. Emotionally challenging situations, such as dealing with distressed patients or difficult family interactions.
• Frequency Key: Continuously (100% - 67% of the time), Repeatedly (66% - 33% of the time), Occasionally (32% - 4% of the time), Rarely (3% - 1% of the time), Never (0%).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the job classification. They are not to be construed as a contract of any type nor an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by individuals so classified.