Oncology Nurse Navigator

Hybrid position located at 5725 W. Las Positas Blvd., Pleasanton, California.

About the role

The Oncology Nurse Navigator is a licensed nurse with experience in cancer clinical care coordination and care management. This position optimizes care coordination, enhances patient experience, and improves clinical outcomes by providing nurse-led navigation throughout the patient journey from diagnosis to survivorship. The Navigator collaborates with physicians and their clinical teams—including patient care coordinators, financial counselors, clinical research coordinators, social workers, genetic counselors, and other supportive care specialists—to triage patients' clinical and supportive care needs and connect them to holistic services. The role fosters trust with patients and caregivers, serving as a clinical care advocate and ensuring seamless communication across care teams.

Responsibilities

• Ensure clinical care adheres to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines and Stanford clinical care pathways, including available clinical trials.
• Assess patient education needs and provide disease-specific information, including treatment options, symptom management, supportive care programs, and clinical trials.
• Address clinical and health system barriers to care, particularly for at-risk populations, using nurse navigation tracking tools.
• Collaborate with social work and nutrition teams to mitigate environmental barriers affecting patients' adherence to cancer care pathways.
• Facilitate communication among the cancer clinical care team and provide one-on-one oncology nurse navigation to address the mental, emotional, and physical needs of patients, caregivers, and families.
• Focus on clinically oriented referrals, second opinions, outside testing, local treatment options, and community-based supportive care.
• Provide culturally appropriate clinical care and educational materials, facilitating additional services to meet cultural needs.
• Screen and assess for distress, referring patients to appropriate support services within the cancer service line or community.
• Conduct strategic touchpoints with patients from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, or palliation, following NCCN and Stanford quality guidelines.
• Support accreditation requirements for Cancer DSL Cancer Centers, ensuring compliance with standards (e.g., CoC, NAPBC, QOPI).
• Serve as a Stanford Cancer DSL representative and liaison to organizations such as the Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators (AONN), Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing from an accredited college/university.
• MS or MSN preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of nursing experience.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in oncology.
• Experience with nurse navigation and/or ambulatory oncology case management preferred.

Skills

• Clinical knowledge of cancer disease processes, clinical trials, symptom management, and cancer care services.
• Understanding of overall cancer disease processes and treatment.
• Proficiency in medical terminology.
• Ability to manage group processes and build effective working relationships.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and critical-thinking skills.
• Experience implementing professional and community-based education programs.
• Proficiency with MS Office.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and strong follow-through abilities.
• Preferred: Knowledge of adult learning styles and teaching methods; ability to deliver educational programs to staff and community.
• Preferred: Experience with Epic EMR.
• Preferred: Ability to integrate patient care with interdisciplinary teams and guide non-licensed personnel.
• Preferred: Ability to develop materials involving graphics and tables.

Licenses and Certifications

• California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Oncology Nurse Certification (OCN) preferred.
• Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS) preferred.
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

Blood Borne Pathogens Category II: Tasks involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, but may require performing unplanned Category I tasks.

Pay

Generally starting at $79.21 - $104.97 per hour. The salary of the finalist will be set based on factors including internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.