RN Navigator - Transplant

About the Role

Kaiser Permanente nurses are guided by an integrated nursing model that places patients and families at the center. The Registered Nurse (RN) Navigator practices professional nursing as defined by the Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act and by organizational policies, procedures, and guidelines. Using the nursing process, an RN Navigator provides education and resources to facilitate informed decision-making and timely access to quality health and psychosocial care throughout all phases of the care continuum.

Serves as an additional point of contact for patients, families, caregivers, and referring physicians to assist with accessing clinical and supportive care services offered within and outside of Kaiser Permanente Georgia. Develops and maintains high-quality evidence-based care processes through patient education and training to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Maintains a strong component of patient/family advocacy with day-to-day review and coordination of multidisciplinary services.

Responsibilities

• Assists patients and families in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and the resources available to them within Kaiser Permanente.
• Responsibilities include assessment, symptom management, analysis of data, planning, case management, implementation of interventions, and evaluation of outcomes for patients with past, current, or suspected chronic diagnoses.
• Develops and facilitates a plan of care in consultation with treating physicians, patients, their support network, and family members to assist the patient in understanding/navigating their individualized plan.
• Serves as an essential link between patients, healthcare providers, family, and support team, and any other individuals involved in the coordination of care.
• Facilitates changes in the plan of care and brokering necessary services to facilitate a patient-centered care environment. Service settings may include the hospital, outpatient, home, or other supportive environments.
• Performs care assessments and triage of new and ongoing patients (including patients on a clinical research study) by phone, in the clinic, or in coordination with other healthcare team members.
• Facilitates appointments for consults, procedures, and support services within the established service lines.
• Facilitates the availability of pathology reports, radiographic studies, and additional pathology testing needed for the member prior to or after their consult appointment within the specialty department.
• Standardizes patient education materials by developing and maintaining a resource library specific to the specialty patient population to be utilized by both patients and the healthcare team.
• Delivers patient and family education prior to the initiation of the treatment plan and remains available throughout the treatment process for questions or concerns from patient/family or caregiver.
• Follows the patient throughout the entire continuum of care while an active Kaiser Permanente KPGA patient and continues to collaborate with external healthcare members regarding inpatient treatment and discharge planning.
• Monitors patient compliance with the patient treatment plan. Assists patients with referrals to outside resources and care coordination as needed.
• Responsible for outreach to maintain a positive working relationship with key customers (physicians, office staff, diagnostics, radiology staff, inpatient nurses, lab staff, primary care, palliative care, and all other specialty services needed).
• Assists the patient with symptom management side effects of treatments, keeping the physician updated with side effects, interventions, medication needs, and any dose-limiting toxicities identified promptly.
• Develops a database of community resources for patients (e.g., American Cancer Society, local support groups).
• Serves as the central point of contact for all navigated patients involved in data collection or research projects and with the clinical research coordinator.
• Identifies potential patients for Clinical Trials protocols and coordinates with the research coordinator to consent the patient.
• Works with quality staff, research team members, and other healthcare team partners to collect data, monitor trends, track outcomes, support and/or participate in research projects, and facilitate strategic planning processes related to patient care.
• Fosters relationships with Kaiser Enterprise for visiting members that may require treatment while in the Georgia region.
• Responsible for ongoing development and implementation of the Nurse Navigator role at Kaiser Permanente and within the community.
• Carries out various direct patient care activities within scope of practice and accurately documents the patient care in the patient medical record according to KP and department policy.
• Serves as a preceptor, resource, and mentor for new members of the healthcare team and nursing students.
• Develops a departmental outreach resource database to connect patients and individuals to services and community resources approved by the Chief of the relevant specialty department.
• Ensures the database is easily accessible by the healthcare team and updated on a regular basis.
• Maintains knowledge about disease specialty, treatments, and delivery of Navigator services. Participates in all relevant trainings and networking opportunities.
• Analyzes new knowledge gained from conferences, workshops, professional literature, or hands-on training and assimilates this knowledge into clinical practice.
• Specialty-specific job responsibilities including but not limited to medication teaching, device programming and maintenance, maintaining relevant databases, patient education, self-injection teaching, and policy review.
• Identifies clinical quality indicators for the relevant patient population and conducts systematic reviews when required.
• Implements methods and processes to sustain change in nursing practice, programs of care, and clinical innovation.
• Facilitates evaluation of records by physicians, peers, and quality standards, according to protocols, and receives and implements constructive directives.
• Participates in specialty department meetings as needed.
• Performs any other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum three (3) years of current RN clinical experience in area of specialty.
• Associates degree in nursing.
• High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required.
• Registered Professional Nurse License (Georgia) required at hire.
• Basic Life Support required at hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Clinical Navigator, or Case Manager preferred.
• Bachelors (BSN) degree.

Schedule

• Full-time.
• Shift: Day (Monday through Friday).
• Working Hours: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM.
• Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40.

Pay

The posted pay range is $47.37 - $60.85 per hour. Kaiser Permanente strives to offer a market-competitive total rewards package and is committed to pay equity and transparency. Actual base pay determined at offer will be based on labor market data, internal alignment, and a candidate's years of relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location.

Travel

Yes, 25% of the time.