RN Navigator

Nurse Navigator

The Nurse Navigator will interface with the multidisciplinary health care team to ensure care coordination occurs for the surgical patient population across the care continuum by ensuring the delivery of needed care services and the removal of barriers to care, assisting patients in overcoming obstacles across the patient's care continuum as well as coping with their treatment and follow-up, and building therapeutic and trusting relationships with patients, families, and all caregivers. This position provides clinical functions as required for this patient population, and participates in optimizing patient care management and providing a patient care experience that is safe, timely, efficient, cost-effective, equitable and patient-centered.

Essential Functions

Promotes a patient- and family-centered care environment for ethical decision making. Advocates for patients to promote optimal care and outcomes. Promotes autonomous decision making by patients.

Participates in the tracking of metrics and patient outcomes, in collaboration with administration, to document and evaluate outcomes of the navigation program and report findings to the cancer committee.

Works with designated physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop and maintain clinical protocols/care pathways, to include coordinating their entry into the electronic medical record (EMR).

Works closely with physicians and allied health professionals in all areas (both internal and external) to coordinate, communicate and update, and facilitate all components of the patient's multidisciplinary plan of care. Serves as the patient's central point of contact. Ensures the patient has timely access to psychosocial support, and facilitates appropriate referrals for patients, families, and caregivers, especially during periods of high emotional stress and anxiety.

Maintains open communications with all health team members (both internal and external) on behalf of the patient, and their significant others as designated by the patient. Notifies providers to confirm patient exams ordered/required, obtains prior exams/films/results, and ensures tests, procedures and related consultations are scheduled and performed.

Collaborates with the cancer committee and administration to perform and evaluate data from the community needs assessment to identify areas of improvement that will affect the patient navigation process and program and participate in quality improvement based on identified service gaps. Builds partnerships with local agencies and groups that may assist with cancer patient care, support, or educational needs.

Assesses educational barriers and needs of patients, families, caregivers, and provides education that best supports the understanding of the diagnosis and plan of care. Provides care education to healthcare team members.

Serves as a liaison between this program and other areas of service that interact with this program and patients.

Works with marketing and outreach departments to educate referring physicians and the community on available services.

Appropriately tracks patients assigned to this Surgical Home Program including but not limited to monitoring patient care scheduling and follow-up care, and assisting with tracking test/procedure results.

Experience Requirements

3 years nursing or as a nurse navigator or similar role preferred

Education Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required

Associates Nursing required

Bachelors Nursing preferred

Basic Life Support (BLS) required at time of hire

Travel up to 10%

Additional duties as assigned may vary

UFJPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug Free Workplace