Stroke/Neurosurgery Nurse Navigator

About the Role

The Stroke/Neurosurgery Nurse Navigator is responsible for coordinating multidisciplinary services to provide quality, cost-effective care to stroke and neurosurgery patients. This position serves as a resource for patients and physicians, acting as an educator, quality improvement advocate, and consultant.

Responsibilities

• Make initial contact with patients and families to establish professional relationships and understanding of the diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Assess patient status and collaborate with physicians to determine appropriate care plans.
• Develop and manage the process for scheduling procedures through discharge for stroke patients.
• Develop, plan, and implement evidence-based measures to improve the quality of stroke patient care and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines.
• Support and assist with data collection for process and quality improvement, understanding department performance trends and standards.
• Collaborate with the Neuroscience Institute department to enhance patient care.
• Inform and seek assistance from the Manager and Director when confronted with unfamiliar procedures and techniques to ensure safe and effective patient care.
• Coordinate patient education and care, serving as a resource for patients and families during diagnosis and treatment, and communicating patient status and needs.
• Navigate patients from the diagnostic phase through treatment, ensuring timely medical and supportive services, including responding to stroke alerts and transfers.
• Provide telephone and face-to-face consultations with patients, answering questions, providing educational information, and reviewing discharge information.
• Communicate with patients and families after discharge to address concerns and ensure understanding of follow-up care and functional assessment.
• Support the goals of The Stroke Center Certified program by creating an environment of collaboration between service lines, departments, and individual practitioners.
• Serve as clinical expert on all aspects of stroke care to health care professionals, hospital personnel, patients, families, and the community.
• Participate in annual/biannual review for recertification as Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center and intra-cycle phone review.
• Assist in the development of policies and procedures to reflect changing standards for stroke care that is evidence based.
• Participate in achieving Stroke Program quality standards. Meet targeted level of patient satisfaction and promote positive patient experiences by evaluating the flow of patients through inpatient and outpatient services and facilitating necessary changes in operation.
• Collaborate with the Stroke Program Manager to identify, review and present Stroke Program data to hospital committees.
• Maintain and validate stroke data by developed or available processes with comprehensive listing of patients with diagnoses meeting Stroke criteria.
• Abstract required data elements from the medical record and assure accurate entering of data elements into the registry.
• Prepare and review monthly data summaries to assure data entries are complete.
• Collaborate to improve performance improvement monitoring and efforts.
• Prepare reports pertinent to Stroke performance improvement on an on-going basis—define and implement procedures to improve data collection quality.
• Collect special data and reports for stroke quality committee and hospital wide committees.
• Participate in PI standard reports and stroke quality report cards.
• Participate in annual continuous quality improvement criteria by obtaining multidisciplinary feedback annually on the effectiveness of the Stroke Program.
• Accurately collect, prepare, process, or maintain required data in accordance with procedures and time frames.
• Collaborate, communicate and serve as a performance improvement resource for the telestroke partners.
• Serve as a resource and collaborator for care providers for continuing education and collaborate with existing community organizations in educational initiatives.
• Report, according to procedure, any cases pertaining for Stroke leadership, Neurovascular Quality Peer Review, Stroke Clinical Performance Improvement.
• Maintain working knowledge of current research related to stroke registries, stroke incidence, and related topics and identify opportunities, facilitates, and participate in research initiatives related to the stroke patient.
• Periodically assist with supporting patients by planning and facilitating a survivor/caregiver support program.
• Independently conduct ongoing promotion to community groups that includes developing written materials and public presentations and collaborates with local health departments and other organizations.
• Promote continuity of care by establishing and maintaining rapport with system providers involved in stroke care.
• Function as a contact, educator, and liaison for community services for individuals looking for prevention, screening, diagnostic treatment, clinical trial research participation and support services.
• Guide the patient in post treatment support and wellness opportunities—utilize follow-up to ensure patients' progress through the health care continuum.
• Promote knowledge of disease process for the patient, family, and care providers.
• Identify barriers to care and utilize resources to develop plans of care that address these issues at a system level.
• Collaborate with physicians to identify appropriate referrals for out-patient services and consults.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
• Valid license as Registered Nurse in Connecticut.
• BSN strongly preferred.
• BLS certification required.
• ACLS certification required.
• Maintain minimum of 6 contact hours annually.
• Preferred Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) or Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN), applicants can obtain certification within 2 years of hire.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive, low-cost health insurance plans (including GLP-1 coverage options) available day one
• Wellness programs
• Paid Time Off accruals
• Tax deferred annuity and (403b) pension plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Free on-site parking and train station shuttle
• Childcare partnership with Children's Learning Center

About Us

Stamford Health is a non-profit independent health care system with more than 3,800 employees committed to caring for the community through a wide range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families receive expert, compassionate care through the system's 305-bed Stamford Hospital; Stamford Health Medical Group, with more than 40 offices in lower Fairfield County offering primary and specialty care; a growing number of ambulatory locations across the region; and support through the Stamford Hospital Foundation.

Stamford Health is known for its expert, person-centered care through its many recognitions and partnerships. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Stamford Hospital as a High-Performing Hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rated Stamford Hospital as a five-star hospital for Overall Quality and The Leapfrog Group awarded Stamford Hospital an "A" for patient safety. The American Nurses Credentialing Center has granted Stamford Hospital Magnet Status, which recognizes superior patient care with the highest level of safety, quality, and patient satisfaction. Stamford Health is Planetree Gold-Certified for Excellence in Person-Centered Care and is a Certified Great Place to Work.

Stamford Health is a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and has recently expanded its relationship with Columbia to offer treatment and expertise from Columbia University Irving Medical Center's nationally recognized heart surgeons. Stamford Health and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have created a premier center for specialty orthopedic care right in Stamford, Connecticut. Additionally, in 2020 Stamford Health's Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center entered into an expanded collaboration with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.

Dedicated to being the community's most trusted health care partner, Stamford Health puts patients first to build long-lasting relationships. For more information, visit StamfordHealth.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.