Nurse Navigator - General Surgery

About the role

The Nurse Navigator will guide patients and families through the healthcare system. They will serve as a single point of contact for patients and families by coordinating care and ensuring their needs are met in a timely and efficient manner. The chosen candidate will work closely with other healthcare professionals to provide personalized care that is tailored to the individual patient's needs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as patient advocate from diagnosis to end of active treatment.
• Be accessible to patients and family members throughout the cancer care continuum, and be responsive, knowledgeable, and empathetic regarding all care needs.
• Assess patients' medical, social, psychosocial, and other care needs using appropriate tools to identify patients' needs and barriers to care and provide access to potential resolutions.
• Identify health disparities and assist in removing these disparities.
• Respond to patient challenges/barriers to care until resolution is achieved.
• Provide appropriate teaching, outreach, and support to patients and families.
• Ensure the patient is empowered to manage their own healthcare needs.
• Provide clarification on the healthcare system throughout the care pathways.
• Provide education/connection to resources on subjects that fall beyond the scope of individual modalities (access to supportive care, financial support, return to work).
• Support providers to assist patients in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and the resources available, including education, clinic research studies, and technological advances.
• Ensure smooth transitions between care modalities, facilities, and providers.
• Introduce patients to appropriate caregivers, as needed.
• Connect patients to hospital and community resources.
• Streamline processes for patients by assisting with appointment scheduling and paperwork preparation.
• Ensure the organization of appointments and explain the sequence of treatments.
• Ensure appropriate patient data are available and patients are appropriately assessed and documented upon, including identification of appropriate clinical research study options.
• Facilitate patient movement through the appropriate clinical pathway and collaborate with physicians to ensure patient compliance.
• Conduct follow-up conversations with all patients and communicate any concerns, changes, or social needs to the appropriate physician or other care provider.
• Document and collaborate with cancer registrars, physicians, and other team members to ensure data collection is timely and accurate throughout the patient care continuum in EMR Database.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Clinical Operations to determine successes and opportunities related to monthly navigation scorecard reports.
• Make appropriate recommendations for changes to the current program, both locally and at a corporate level, and assist in delivering program improvement.
• Attend MultiDisciplinary (MDM) and/or other meetings as necessary.
• Stay current on the latest oncology nursing developments and participate in organizational conferences.
• Maintain CEUs every year centered around cancer care.
• Completes any duties and special assignments as requested.

Requirements

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a Nurse Navigator, Oncology Nursing, and/or related field required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required.
• Master’s Degree in Nursing preferred.
• Registered Nurse (RN) License required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification required.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification required.
• Oncology Nurse Navigator Certification preferred.