Cardiac Nurse Navigator- Fulltime

About the Role

The Cardiac Nurse Navigator manages and coordinates all aspects of care for the treatment of Cardiovascular disease. This role involves working with patients and families to provide education and collaboratively establish a plan of care from the initial episode through long-term follow-up. The Navigator functions autonomously, demonstrating professional behavior while interfacing with the community, healthcare team, and patients.

The role includes tracking navigational and quality metrics, implementing interventions to meet set metrics, and ensuring coordinated, seamless, and comprehensive services throughout the disease continuum. The Navigator acts as an advocate, interpreter, educator, clinical liaison, counselor, and collaborator for patients and caregivers, identifying and mitigating barriers to care.

Additional responsibilities include developing relationships with physicians, partnering with community organizations for outreach, promoting wellness activities, and acting as a liaison to raise awareness of services. The Navigator may assist in research activities, collect and track outcome data, support strategic planning, and ensure compliance standards. They will also seek grant funding opportunities and deliver compassionate, holistic care while upholding patient rights and dignity.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage all aspects of cardiovascular disease care for patients and families.
• Provide education and establish a collaborative plan of care from initial diagnosis through long-term follow-up.
• Function autonomously while interfacing with the community, healthcare team, and patients.
• Track navigational and quality metrics, implementing interventions to meet established goals.
• Serve as an advocate, interpreter, educator, clinical liaison, counselor, and collaborator for patients and caregivers.
• Identify and mitigate potential and realized barriers to care, connecting patients with necessary resources.
• Develop relationships with Heart & Lung Institute physicians to facilitate education and ease of access to services.
• Partner with community organizations for outreach opportunities and promote wellness activities.
• Act as a liaison within the facility and community to raise awareness of Heart & Lung Institute services.
• Assist in research activities as appropriate.
• Collect data, track outcomes, and support strategic planning processes.
• Develop and deliver quarterly reports on outcome metrics from performance improvement activities.
• Ensure compliance with standards and research grant funding opportunities.
• Deliver compassionate, holistic care while supporting patient rights and dignity.
• Apply evidence-based practices, theory, principles, and processes in care delivery.
• Collaborate with medical teams and build interdepartmental relationships.
• Stay knowledgeable about current treatment methods, pharmaceutical agents, community resources, insurance, financial assistance, and support services.
• Uphold personal, patient, and departmental safety guidelines.

Requirements

• Current licensure to practice in the state of Tennessee as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification completed prior to starting in the unit/department and maintained thereafter.
• For non-Tennessee residents, Tennessee licensure or multistate licensure from a compact state must be obtained within three months of hire.

Qualifications

• Education Required: Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing or Nurse Practitioner Program.
• Education Preferred: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Experience Required: Greater than 2 years of cardiac-related acute care experience.
• Experience Preferred: Outpatient Cardiac Care, prior educator, or navigation experience.

Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Chattanooga, TN. Full-time, standard hours.