Registered Nurse - Patient Navigator (Oncology)

Responsibilities

• Manages the case load of patients and identifies new patient candidates.
• Communicates with management on all relevant operations and patient issues.
• Exercises critical thinking to assist patients through a continuum of care.
• Improves health care access, promotes client knowledge and compliance with behavior modifications associated with diagnosis and treatment regimes.
• Communicates with external offices and patients regarding testing and procedural appointments.
• Affords needed referrals for testing and treatment.
• Maintains readiness for compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Supports effective case management to maximize healthcare outcomes, facilitate wellness and identify/correct service delivery complications.
• Affirms a comprehensive health assessment of the patient’s physical, psychological, social, environmental, financial and functional status in collaboration with multidisciplinary team members.
• Organizes and coordinates timely patient appointments.
• Reviews diagnostic studies, clinical history and course of treatment with physicians to identify the most appropriate next course of care.
• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates the oncology patient pathways by focusing on knowledge, attitudes, and skills.
• Collects, stores, and reports data collection for the development and quality improvement of the program.
• Applies knowledge of research, current concepts and guidelines to practice.
• Complies with insurance requirements for disease management, assists with coordinating care of the uninsured/unassigned patient referrals.
• Collaborates with service line to provide formal feedback for registries and governing bodies through performance development process.
• Collaborates with service line to achieve unit and organizational quality improvement and outcome-based initiatives.
• Works closely with Service Line management regarding daily operational issues, including short, mid, and long-range planning and coordination of the overall service line with a focus on patient care within the continuum.
• Uses critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address the patient’s individual and family needs; communicates the plan of care with the patient, family and other health team members both verbally and in writing.
• Maintains the plan of care through an interdisciplinary and collaborative process in conjunction with all parts of the health care team.
• Identifies patients at high risk for treatment failure or interruptions and enlists additional resources.
• Serves effectively as a patient and family advocate.
• Promotes team conferences for patients.
• Supports patients during difficult decision-making periods.
• Affords coordination of end-of-life care for patients and families.
• Coordinates care for patients requiring hospitalization (weekly direct patient contact throughout hospitalization and prior to discharge) to coordinate subsequent care as outpatient and avoid unnecessary readmissions.
• Provides education congruent with patient needs, focusing on disease process, expected side effects of treatment and community resources.
• Acts as an educator for patient and family, helping to make care seamless, continuous and comprehensive, promoting high quality care for assigned caseload.
• Serves as clinical expert for disease-specific populations served, providing education and internal consultation to other staff.
• Participates in the development and implementation of policies, procedures and quality improvement planning for disease-specific patients, multidisciplinary clinic and program development.
• Establishes and promotes collaborative relationships with physicians and other members of the health care team.
• Develops and promotes collegial relationships with customers.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required with three years’ progressive oncology experience required.
• Certification/licensure as required by regulatory agency. Certification is preferred in related field (OCN).
• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing and current licensure as a Registered Nurse in New York State.
• Demonstrated high clinical competence with commitment to interdisciplinary teamwork, relationship-based care, EBP and ability to carry out responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Maintains annual mandatory competencies and requirements for service line.
• Commitment to and knowledge of Oncology care and community resources.
• Working knowledge of computers, keyboarding, and various programs for reporting and presenting information (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.).

Benefits

• Full-time employment.
• Flexible scheduling options.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Accredited and rated highly for multiple specialty services.