Patient Navigator, Full Time, Days

About the role

The Nurse Navigator identifies patient needs and priorities for care through assessment, planning, and delegating care based on those needs. They execute diagnostic and therapeutic physician orders, evaluate patient responses to care, and coordinate with other professional disciplines as needed. The role involves helping patients and staff identify problems and explore alternative choices and outcomes while demonstrating the hospital’s mission, vision, and values.

Responsibilities

• Attend the tumor board meeting.
• Coordinate care for patients who may receive or have received a cancer diagnosis.
• Provide continuous and comprehensive education and information to patients and families.
• Independently perform telephone assessments using the nursing process and apply judgment and decision-making skills to coordinate a plan of care for the patient.
• Document all telephone assessment calls according to protocol.
• Demonstrate knowledge, skill, and coordination to provide nursing care and guidance to patients from diagnosis to survivorship.
• Act as a liaison between physicians, patients, and providers, answering questions at the highest level within scope of practice.
• Work with all hospital departments (nursing, nuclear medicine, radiology, outpatient, oncology, surgery, etc.) to provide seamless care for cancer services.
• Make referrals to appropriate supportive care services as needed.
• Ensure patients requesting prescriptions are handled according to protocol, including documentation and delivery.
• Follow inpatients and outpatients to anticipate schedule changes for office visits, test results, discharge planning, and communication with other participating physicians.
• Contact, explain, and schedule patients in need of additional testing or procedures.
• Schedule specific procedures per radiologists' requests and ensure compliance with treatment.
• Anticipate scheduled changes, test results, and discharge planning.
• Follow up on specific post-procedures.
• Ensure specific procedures have the proper paperwork, lab values, and history and physical (H&P) documentation.
• Abide by the hospital and Imaging Services Policy and Procedures.
• Develop and adhere to a checklist for procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of three years of clinical experience in a healthcare setting; knowledge of various aspects of cancer care preferred.
• BLS certification required within 90 days of hire.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritizing and adapting to changing tasks frequently and quickly.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing or other accredited allied health program; RN preferred.
• Minimum of three years of clinical experience in a healthcare setting; knowledge of various aspects of cancer care preferred.