Location & Practice Overview

This position is located within the SF Spine service line of Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation – South in San Francisco. The practice operates as an ambulatory specialty program supporting spine-related care coordination.

Service Line SF Spine
Organization Unit Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation – South
Practice Type Ambulatory specialty
City San Francisco, California

Responsibilities

  • Offer individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to help overcome healthcare system barriers.
  • Collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary team members to triage, coordinate, and manage patient care.
  • Educate patients and serve as a consistent point of contact throughout the continuum of care.
  • Facilitate shared decision-making by addressing communication and health literacy needs and integrating patient values and preferences into treatment decisions.
  • Participate in strategic initiatives within the clinical program, including developing, implementing, and monitoring navigation activities and sustainability.

Daily work focuses on creating a seamless navigation process that supports positive outcomes for patients, providers, and the care system.

Qualifications & Requirements

Applicants must meet the listed education, licensure, certification, experience, and skills criteria.

Education
Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
Licensure
RN – Registered Nurse of California
Certification
BLS – Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider
Experience
5 years recent relevant experience
Required Skills
Medical terminology; verbal and written communication; Microsoft Office (Excel and Word)
Helpful Knowledge
Third-party reimbursement processes

Compensation & Benefits

The posting lists an hourly pay range and indicates benefits for this regular full-time position. Specific eligibility and plan details should be confirmed with the employer.

  • Hourly rate: $90.58–$126.81
  • Benefits listed for the position
  • Position status: Non-exempt
  • Employee status: Regular

Schedule & Work Environment

Employment Type Full Time
Weekly Hours 40
Shift Structure Days, 8-hour shifts
Workdays Monday–Friday
Weekend Requirements None

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

Support is provided to patients and their families or caregivers who are engaged with the SF Spine service line across the continuum of care in an ambulatory specialty environment.

Patient Group Individuals receiving spine-related care
Support Network Patients, families, and caregivers
Care Stage Across the continuum of care
Environment Ambulatory specialty setting

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The professional core of this role is navigation within an ambulatory spine specialty program. Emphasis is placed on continuity across the care pathway, support for informed treatment decisions, and contribution to service-line navigation processes.

Care Continuity Navigation support spanning the spine care continuum
Decision Support Integration of patient values, preferences, and health literacy into treatment discussions
Program-Level Work Development and monitoring of navigation activities within the service line

Role Highlights

Several features distinguish this specific navigator position from more general navigation or care-coordination roles.

  • Dedicated placement within the SF Spine clinical program
  • Direct participation in strategic navigation initiatives and program sustainability efforts
  • Weekday-only schedule with no weekend requirements

About Sutter Health

Sutter Health is a not-for-profit integrated healthcare system serving communities across Northern California and the Central Coast. Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation partners with affiliated medical groups to deliver ambulatory and specialty services, including the SF Spine program in San Francisco.

Organization Type Not-for-profit integrated health system
Service Region Northern California and Central Coast
Relevant Unit Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
Local Presence Ambulatory and specialty services in San Francisco

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this role tied specifically to the SF Spine program?
Yes. The position is assigned to the SF Spine service line within Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation – South.
What is the primary emphasis of the work?
The role centers on patient navigation, care coordination, education, and serving as a point of contact rather than on performing procedures.
Are weekends part of the schedule?
The posting lists weekend requirements as none. The schedule is Monday through Friday day shifts.
Is experience with insurance or reimbursement required?
Knowledge of third-party reimbursement is described as helpful but is not listed as a mandatory qualification.
How much collaboration with other clinicians is expected?
The navigator collaborates with physicians and interdisciplinary team members to triage, coordinate, and manage patient care.
Is the position unionized?
The posting indicates the position is non-union.

Nurse Navigator, SF Spine in San Francisco, CA

The Nurse Navigator, SF Spine position at Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation – South centers on continuity of care within an ambulatory spine specialty program. Rather than focusing on a single appointment, the navigation function connects patients and families with the information, communication, and coordination needed as care progresses. The nurse collaborates with physicians and interdisciplinary team members, helps address barriers within the healthcare system, and supports informed treatment decisions. A key aspect of this role is the connection between clinical coordination and patient engagement. Clear communication, attention to health literacy, and recognition of individual preferences help patients understand their care pathways and participate in decisions. The position also contributes to the development and monitoring of navigation activities within the service line. This combination of patient-facing support and program-level participation defines the professional scope of the SF Spine navigator opportunity in San Francisco.

Career Opportunities for Nurse Navigator, SF Spine in San Francisco, CA

Nurse navigation may appeal to registered nurses looking to apply their clinical knowledge in a role that extends beyond a single encounter or treatment setting. Professionals with backgrounds in orthopedic nursing, neurosurgery, surgical services, case management, or ambulatory care may find this career direction relevant to their existing interests. The transition can be particularly worth considering for nurses who want to build on their understanding of specialty care while exploring a practice model that places greater emphasis on the patient's overall experience of the healthcare system. It may also interest clinicians who value work that connects clinical knowledge with patient education and a broader view of the care journey. For nurses exploring specialty nursing careers in San Francisco, a navigator position provides one possible direction to evaluate alongside traditional bedside, clinic-based, and other non-bedside nursing pathways.

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