Behavioral Health Nurse Manager

Job Title: Behavioral Health Nurse Manager

Job Code: NM BH

Department: Analenisgi Inpatient

Division: Nursing

Salary Level: Exempt 6

Reports to: Executive Director of Nursing

Last Revised: October 2024

Primary Function

This position is responsible for the oversight, management and supervision of the nursing 

and support staff providing care on the Analenisgi Inpatient Nursing Unit and the nursing 

services rendered at the Kanvwotiyi Residential Behavioral Health location.

This person will ensure safe, efficient and effective daily operations. Strict adherence to 

state and federal regulations, CIHA policies and accreditation standards related to patient 

care, staffing, maintenance of the units, safety, clinical, medical, risk management, 

financial, community relations and other duties assigned considered pertinent to the 

position. The Inpatient Behavioral Health Nurse Manager will adhere to the vision and 

mission of CIHA and participate in the execution of the strategic plan for behavioral health 

and substance use services and ensure the nursing staff does the same. The person in this 

position works closely with the Clinical Service Manager, the other facility nurse managers 

and the Executive Director of Nursing. 

The Inpatient Nurse Manager will manage and oversee a variety of substance use disorder 

treatment functions to include supervision, program development, training and 

development of staff and will also be a part of outreach in development of community 

partnerships. The Nurse Manager will work collaboratively with all other CIHA and EBCI 

programs in order to provide integrated services and treatment for clientele. The Nurse 

Manager will be responsible for program reports and audits and follows all oversight 

requirements, policies and procedures as well as assisting in program and policy 

development.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative:

• This person will become knowledgeable regarding all departments that they 

manage and be able to step in and work side by side to provide patient care, in the 

event that assistance with coverage is needed. 

• Makes daily and as needed rounds to observe the condition of patients and monitors 

the nursing staff's patient care activities.

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• Participates in the recruitment and retention of quality nursing staff and initiates an 

on-going plan of guidance, counseling and evaluation that will foster the 

professional growth and development of the nursing service staff. 

• Receives and resolves all informal complaints, forwarding unresolved issues to the 

Executive Director, Division of Nursing for review and assistance. 

• Ensures conformance to acceptable standards of nursing practice, including all 

Cherokee Indian Hospital policies and procedures, rules and regulations required 

for nursing licensure. 

• Defines departmental nursing program goals and objectives and evaluates

programs. 

• Develops/ maintains an organizational culture that fosters staff professional 

development and provides adequate supervision and support. 

• Facilitates healthy team development and skill building, integral to the delivery of 

CIHA services.

• Maintains and promotes positive and constructive communications and activities 

within nursing services, other departments, tribal, and community agencies for 

purposes of coordinating and understanding of goals and objectives relevant to the 

population served.

• Provides administrative supervision inclusive of performance reviews, disciplinary 

actions, hiring/separation authority, and time and attendance for assigned clinics.

• Provide clear and kind feedback to staff regarding their performance on a regular 

basis. Complete formal annual performance review of all direct reports. 

• Work with the Employee Relations Department to develop and administer 

performance improvement plans (PIPs) and progressive discipline as needed

• Schedules, conducts and participates in all staff meetings no less than quarterly. 

Keeps documentation of what was covered in the meeting and who attended. 

• Schedules and approves leave, identifies leave abuses and initiates necessary action 

to correct the abuse. Counsels subordinate employees on individual personnel 

problems for direct reports.

• Participates in developing and revising nursing policies and procedures for units 

managed.

• Must be able to drive (when needed) for business purposes to other program 

locations such as to KAN. If employee drives his/her personal automobile for 

business, employee must have valid North Carolina driver’s license and 

comprehensive automobile insurance coverage, as required by law. 

• Actively participates in preparation for surveys and inspections conducted by 

licensing or accrediting bodies, the State, and any other agency site visits as 

dictated by the state laws or regulations.

• Provides advisory and consultative support to nursing staff on a wide range of 

patient care and administrative matters. Directs and implements nursing activities 

for emergency planning. 

• Alone or in collaboration with the Officer of the Day, assumes responsibility for 

managing or obtaining proper assistance for the management of non-nursing 

emergencies occurring within the hospital during assigned tour-of-duty. 

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• Participates in team meetings; assists with new initiatives and projects and assists 

in fulfilling reporting requirements.

• Attends interdisciplinary meetings, planning sessions, committees and serves on 

CQI teams to promote quality and performance improvement.\Ensures patient 

progress is accurately documented by staff in all patient charts. Provide reports as 

requested.

• Participates in the development, administration and evaluation of the nursing 

department's annual budget and conducts departmental activities in consideration 

of budget constraints. 

• Collects relevant data and statistics for documentation and prepares special 

projects and reports for the nursing department. 

• Ensures completion of all monthly report requirements. 

• Oversees chart reviews to ensure the delivery and documentation of services in 

compliance with licensure and payer regulations and standards. Ensures 10% of 

charts are audited monthly with some representation of active and discharged 

patients.

• Reviews work schedules, assignments, patient classification and charge nurse 

reports to assess daily, the appropriate number and level of personnel required to 

provide quality patient care. Recommends and carries out changes in personnel 

and assignments accordingly.

• Maintains accurate and complete personnel records, miscellaneous documents, 

reports, statistics, etc.

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Education / Minimum Qualifications

• Must have an active unrestricted valid Registered Nurse license within the state of 

North Carolina or a state that is accepted as reciprocity.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or higher preferred, or enrolled in a Bachelor’s 

Degree in Nursing program within 6 months of hire along with formal documented 

leadership education that will be documented in the applicants file.

• Minimum of 2 years of supervision and/or management of nursing staff experience 

preferred or Advanced Practice Degree in Nursing acceptable. (MSN or Doctorate)

• A strong background in Substance Use/Psychiatric Nursing required. Examples of 

this documented in the applicants file required 

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) active or signed up for the next available class at 

CIHA required. 

• Must obtain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), must be obtained within 6 

months of date of hire if applicant does not have an active card

• Must have a valid North Carolina driver’s license. 

• Proficiency rated at 1 year. 

Job Knowledge 

• Knowledge of principles, practices, techniques, and theories of professional nursing 

in order to plan and provide nursing care to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, 

and socio-cultural needs of patients of all ages. Specifically, in Infancy (Birth-1 

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Year), Toddler and Early Childhood (2-5 years), Latency (6-9 years), 

Preadolescence (10-12 years), Early Adolescence (13-15 years), Adolescence (16-

20 years), Adult (21-64 years), Elderly (65- years).

• Knowledge of the nursing process and its application to clinical practice.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of effective employee supervision.

• Knowledge of the biological aspects of the disease process of illness in order to 

recognize complications and therapeutic interventions required.

• Knowledge of psychiatric nursing treatment and psychotherapeutic interventions, 

laws and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing, the uses and effects of 

psychotropic drugs and narcotics, patient safety practices and locked facility 

security, theories, principles and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy, 

symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed and mentally ill patients, 

mental health community resources and services, and health education, 

interviewing and counseling techniques.

• Knowledge and ability to analyze the results of various medical procedures and 

translate into appropriate nursing interventions.

• Knowledge and ability to independently plan, manage, and organize work in order 

to meet priorities, accomplish work within established time frames and work in 

stressful situations.

• Knowledge of the occupational functions of multi-disciplinary health care teams.

• Knowledge of the culture and medical health profile of the patient population.

• Knowledge of available health care programs and community resources.

• Knowledge and ability to teach and counsel patient/family and staff on health 

maintenance and disease prevention.

• Knowledge of processes and procedures for establishing, revising, continually 

monitoring, and evaluating standards for the practice of nursing.

• Knowledge and skills in operating specialized medical equipment, such as: 

monitoring devices, incubators, suction pumps, oxygen equipment, etc.

• Knowledge and skills in operating a computer and ability to use word processing 

and spreadsheet programs.

• Knowledge of problem oriented medical record methods.

• Knowledge of legal and ethical aspects of nursing.

• Ability to communicate to and interact with persons (staff, health care 

professionals, individuals in the community) with different functions, levels of 

knowledge, and requirements.

• Ability to supervise nursing personnel and delegate work.

• Knowledge of JCAHO accreditation standards, nursing quality improvement 

standards, personnel regulations and safety standards.

• Knowledge of clinical teaching methodologies and methods of evaluating the 

effectiveness of teaching strategies.

• Ability to gather and analyze data and communicate findings.

Complexity of Duties

The work involves a wide range of activities performed in an independent manner and 

requires decision-making and problem-solving abilities related to data collection, planning, 

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implementing, evaluating, and modifying methods and techniques. The nature of the 

assignments requires flexibility and ability to make rapid adjustments from performing 

administrative and supervisory management functions to interacting with physicians, 

hospital and area administrators, hospital services and nursing services outside the 

organization. Consults with the Executive Director, Division of Nursing, and clinical and 

supervisory staff members in professional and patient care/activities. 

Guidelines consist of professional standards of practice as determined by the nurse practice 

act, nursing, and medical policy and procedures, standing orders, and hospital and agency 

policies. Complies also with SAMHSA, FPM, DHHS, PHS, and IHS regulations. These 

guidelines are not always specifically applicable to all situations and independent judgment 

is required to analyze and determine the appropriate course of action in problem solving 

related to the specific situation. Evaluation of work performance is accomplished through 

reports, conferences, and effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the service.

Supervision Received

The Executive Director, Division of Nursing is the immediate supervisor. The Executive 

Director, Division of Nursing sets the overall objectives and resources available. The 

Nurse Manager exercises independent judgment in planning and carrying out the 

assignment and in changing or modifying plans based upon program needs and standards. 

Work is reviewed for effectiveness in meeting expected results.

Responsibility for Accuracy

The incumbent’s responsibility for accuracy is critical in achieving and maintaining The 

Joint Commission accreditation requirements that would negatively affect meeting 

accreditation and having potential of losing revenue generated from Medicare and 

Medicaid collections. 

The incumbent’s performance affects the health, recovery, and rehabilitation of patients, 

and the quality of care provided. Evaluations and observations are used to modify and 

develop clinically appropriate treatment plans. The incumbent has a positive effect upon 

the recovery of the patient and is responsible for the development of policies and 

procedures, which serve as hospital guidelines.

Contact with Others

Contacts are with patients, families, hospital personnel, medical services and community 

agencies. Contacts with patients, families, and hospital personnel are to exchange, provide, 

and obtain information concerning the patient's physical and psychosocial health care 

problems and needs. Contacts with nursing and medical, administrative and other hospital 

departments are to monitor and evaluate the quality of care and implement corrective 

actions. 

Confidential Data

The Privacy Act of 1974 mandates that the incumbent shall maintain complete 

confidentiality of all administrative, medical, and all other pertinent information that comes 

to his/her attention or knowledge. The Act carries both civil and criminal penalties for 

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unlawful disclosure of records. Violations of such confidentiality shall be cause for adverse 

action. 

The incumbent is responsible for the development, application, and implementation of 

EEO requirements and the EEO program guidelines established by the HRSA Office of 

Equal Employment Opportunity. In addition, the incumbent is directly accountable for the 

achievement of tangible EEO progress and results relative to minorities and women with 

the jurisdiction of the immediate organizational unit supervised. Sets the tone and carries 

out the leadership role by: initiating affirmative EEO action, selection, details, 

reassignments, training awards, career ladders and/or lattices, hiring; redesigning jobs; 

developing and promoting minorities and women and acting as a positive model in EEO 

matters for the benefit of subordinate supervisors and employees. Seeks out and utilizes 

the appropriate personnel generalist, EEO deputies and/or counselors applicable training 

resources, etc. Reports will be submitted concerning EEO matters, as required.

Mental / Visual / Physical

Work in various services within the nursing department requires considerable walking, 

standing, bending, pushing, and lifting in helping patients. These same activities are 

required in moving equipment and medical supplies. The ability to cope with the volume 

of patients, personnel problems, and constant changes is required. May occasionally lift 

over 15 pounds. 

Environment

The work environment involves moderate risks of exposure to infectious disease, radiation, 

electrical hazards, irritant chemicals, and explosive gases. May be necessary to work when 

Administrative leave is granted if patient care would be compromised. 

Extent of Supervision

Supervises the work of between 5 to 10 personnel in licensed professional, ancillary 

support, and clerical positions. Is responsible for planning work to be accomplished, 

setting priorities, assigning work, evaluating the performance of subordinates, counseling 

subordinates on technical and administrative matters, interviewing, selecting and assigning 

new employees or reassigning those currently employed, hearing and resolving complaints; 

effecting minor disciplinary measures and resolving complaints; effecting minor 

disciplinary measures and identifying development and training needs of subordinates. 

Promotes the incentive awards, equal employment opportunity, upward mobility and other 

special programs. Schedules and approves leave.

Customer Service

Consistently demonstrates superior customer service to patients/customers by displaying 

behaviors and skills consistent with CIHA guiding principles and core values. Ensure 

excellent customer service is provided to all patients/customers by seeking out 

opportunities to be of service.