Job Summary
The oncology nurse navigator is a nurse who provides individualized care coordination to patients, families, and caregivers. This key function can help them overcome barriers within the healthcare system and facilitate access to all the resources available to all patients. The oncology nurse navigator acts as a link between patients and care providers to facilitate clinical and supportive care services. The role is that of a single point of contact among referring physicians, patients, and other clinical caregivers for the purpose of empowering patients in dealing with the disease and the treatment. The oncology nurse navigator facilitates patient care needs across the continuum of care.
Responsibilities
Clinical
- Serves as a patient advocate on the interprofessional team.
- Transitions patients from one phase of care to the next, including self-management and independence in self-care.
- Matches unmet needs with referrals to a social worker, dietitian, genetic counselor, nurse practitioner, community or outreach coordinator, or applicable community services.
- Facilitates scheduling of appointments for clinical consultations and support services inclusive of the medical care team, surgeons, radiation oncologists, social workers, pain consults, and dietitians.
- Follows patients throughout the care continuum, including inpatient admissions, and collaborates with inpatient care management resources.
- Assists patients to make informed decisions.
- Conducts initial and ongoing comprehensive needs assessments of patients and families, assessing for barriers to timely care.
- Provides emotional and educational support for patients and families.
- Identifies new and established patients with a cancer diagnosis who require navigator services.
- Encourages patients and families to participate in the care plan.
- Collaborates with members of the healthcare team to design and coordinate an evidence-based plan of care.
- Documents in the electronic health record, as indicated, all interventions and clinical changes using established care guidelines.
- Evaluates results of care plan and adjusts priorities as patient status changes.
- Coordinates patient education by assisting patients in understanding diagnoses, treatment options, and available resources.
Leadership and Quality
- Adheres to established productivity benchmarks, quality metrics, and clinical outcomes and submits data for the oncology dashboard.
- Articulates service and customer relations improvements to ensure patient retention.
- Coordinates clinical information for multidisciplinary treatment-planning cancer conferences.
- Develops patient education programs and written communication materials.
- Participates in oncology service line performance improvement activities.
- Maintains responsibility for outreach efforts to establish and maintain positive working relationships with key stakeholders (e.g., physicians, pharmacy staff, office staff, diagnostic laboratory staff, nurses, radiology staff, social services staff, radiation oncology staff).
Education, Experience, and Licensure
- BS in nursing from an accredited college of nursing preferred
- State licensure as RN
- Oncology certified nurse (OCN) certification preferred
- Basic life support certificate
- Experience in the oncology program system and departments of the hospital required
Job Qualifications and Skills
- Ability to provide holistic care for patients with education and information about their illnesses
- Clear and persuasive communication skills among all levels and audiences
- Clinical assessment skills
- Comfort in the role as troubleshooter or problem solver
- Demonstrated leadership style that builds and maintains a climate of trust and inspires collaboration with medical staff and departments
- Active listening skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Symptom management experience
- Ability to anticipate change and react accordingly
- Ability to form strong alliances with referral and resource agencies in the community
- Ability to multitask
- Ability to work in a self-directed environment
- Expert knowledge in medical, surgical, and radiation oncology
- Knowledge of legal and professional guidelines and scope of practice
- Sensitivity to cultural and ethnic groups
- Sound decision-making and critical-thinking skills
- Collaborative leadership style and decisive thinking skills
- Time management skills