NURSE NAVIGATOR

Position Summary

The Imaging Nurse Navigator provides clinical support, treatment access, education, and coordination of patient-centered care to benefit the patient, family, and multidisciplinary physicians while helping achieve optimal outcomes for the patients in both the Oncology and Radiology settings.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the essential link between patients and other care providers to provide resources and assistance with accessing clinical and supportive care services offered within the healthcare system and community.
• Explains special procedures to patients and their families including risk, complications, and expected outcomes.
• Serves as the primary patient advocate and helps the patient and family make informed medical decisions for special procedures.
• Decreases anxiety of the patient and family regarding procedures and increases coping mechanisms and communication skills between the Imaging staff and patient.
• Aids in coordination of care between various healthcare providers and facilities; facilitates patient appointments including labs, diagnostic area, and specialty physicians.
• Educates patients about their disease, prescribed treatment, Imaging procedures, side effects of treatment, and how to manage them and assists them in making informed decisions.
• Obtains medical, surgical, and psychosocial history on all patients, pertinent to the patient’s care and procedures.
• Implements approved protocols and/or physician orders related to pre-procedure anticoagulation.
• Aids in coordination of care between various healthcare providers and facilities; facilitates patient appointments including labs, diagnostic area, and specialty physicians.
• Educates patients about their disease, prescribed treatment, Imaging procedures, side effects of treatment, and how to manage them and assists them in making informed decisions.
• Assists patients in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and resources available, including educating eligible patients, appropriate clinical trials, genetic counseling, or fertility preservation.
• Works with radiologists and/or physicians to determine the best Imaging alternatives for those high-risk patients aiding in decreasing potential damage to a patient’s renal function following contrast administration.
• Serves as an expert on risk management and prevention of Contrast Induced Nephropathy.
• Possesses experience in responding and managing all radiologic emergencies and their interventions.
• Assists radiologists with special procedures, knowledge of sterile technique, prepping and draping, infection control principles and practices, positioning patient for optimal comfort, radiation protection, and procedural needs.
• Provides procedural conscious sedation and reversal agents under the guidance of a credentialed radiologist.
• Makes sure patients are monitored during and after special procedures.
• Provides patient education as well as accurate and completed discharge instructions for Imaging exams and procedures.
• Evaluates and monitors quality metrics and reports findings to appropriate committees.
• Adheres to Covenant’s Standard of Behavior and promotes teamwork and innovation.
• Engages peers in process improvement, change, management, and fiscal stewardship.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards.
• Completes required education assignments annually.
• Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority.
• Minimum Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of RN experience.
• Licensure Requirement: Must have and maintain a valid Tennessee RN License.
• Oncology and/or Certified Radiology Nurse or must be working toward obtaining the OCN/CRN within three (3) years of employment.