Orthopaedic nurse navigator

About the role

The role involves coordinating all systems/services to ensure an organized, multidisciplinary approach to the delivery of care to Orthopaedic total joint patients. The coordinator acts as the initial point of contact, throughout outpatient and inpatient visits, and ensures effective communication and collaboration among the health care team members.

Responsibilities

• Treats all internal and external physicians, staff, patients, and families as valued customers striving to provide advocacy and service.
• Works directly with the Orthopaedic Joint Surgeons/Team and is the liaison between the outpatient and inpatient care areas.
• Schedules appropriate outpatient and inpatient visits as required to ensure timely access to medical care.
• Develops a system to ensure patient scheduling for appropriate imaging (MRI, CT, etc.) and/or interdisciplinary assessments and interventions is done in as few visits as possible.
• Coordinates care throughout outpatient and inpatient visits and all follow-up needs.
• Maintains written/verbal communication with referring institutions, physicians, and insurance companies, as indicated.
• Teaches patient and family pre- and post-operative joint classes.
• Conducts home assessments and determines the need for assistive devices.
• Participates in post-operative phone calls and returns pages and phone calls in a timely manner.
• Works closely with Medical Staff and Ancillary Services to plan, coordinate, and carry out the multidisciplinary plan of care specific to each patient's individual needs.
• Evaluates patient response to interventions and communicates the plan of care to other departments and health care providers to support optimal patient outcomes.
• Collaborates with other departments and disciplines to coordinate patient needs.
• Carries out Orthopaedic protocols, clinical guidelines, monitors and trends patient outcomes.
• Provides direct patient care as applicable to facilitate the plan of care.
• Provides and/or coordinates education to nursing and hospital staff, other disciplines, students, community, and patients/families utilizing teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies.
• Assists in the development and revision of policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines.
• Assists and participates in regulatory compliance education, gathering and auditing of data, presentation of data.

Qualifications

• Current Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which services will be provided or current multi-state Registered Nurse license through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• Obtain certification in Basic Life Support within 30 days of hire date.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
• Orthopaedic Nurses Certification (OCN).