Oncology Nurse Navigator

Oncology Nurse Navigator

CentraState Medical Center currently has an employment opportunity available for an Oncology Nurse Navigator. This role navigates patients and families through the Cancer Service Line and other pertinent clinical services.

Responsibilities include:

• Adhering to the standards identified in the Medical Center's Organizational Competencies.
• Attending and participating in Tumor Board meetings. Interacting with physicians regarding results of cancer screenings, diagnostic tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.), biopsies and treatment plans.
• Attending and participating in appropriate American College of Surgeons' accreditation meetings.
• In collaboration with the Oncology Team, coordinating the care of cancer patients including assisting with the completion of an individualized needs assessment and care development plan for patients to address physical, psychosocial, spiritual and social needs:
• Serving as a patient advocate.
• Serving as a facilitator for collaboration with multidisciplinary health team members.
• Focusing on patient satisfaction including timely testing and treatments; actively seeking ways to improve patient flow.
• Ensuring follow-up with appropriate resources as identified.
• Maintaining current knowledge and skills in the Cancer Service Line.
• Facilitating access of care to patients by educating and assisting patients in securing future needed appointments, recommending supportive programs available within the cancer program to enhance the patient's wellness and ability to live life as best as possible, embracing and promoting survivorship programs aimed at improving the daily life and coping skills of patients and caregivers.
• Identifying the needs of the patient population served and modifying and delivering care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.).
• During initial interactions and phone triage, identifying problems and helping develop evidence-based guidelines/solutions to meet desired measurable outcomes and documenting care/findings as per policy. Documenting patient and physician interactions in the electronic medical record, including education related encounters.
• Maintaining a communication system which ensures comprehensive and timely transmission of information to physicians, nursing staff, and the multidisciplinary team.
• Monitoring patient progress to ensure patient outcomes are achieved and maintained based on established standards of care.
• Participating in continuous process improvement efforts to improve patient outcomes, assures appropriate utilization of resources and supports efforts to improve patient satisfaction.
• Supporting revision of the plan of care as per the physician and staff and initiating teaching/education with the oncology patient and their significant other(s)/caregivers to support/meet desired outcomes and documenting appropriately.
• Working with cancer services team to train and educate staff regarding the importance of patient navigation. Helps develop and grow the Navigation program and develops skills and roles among all staff members to assist in the navigation process. Aligns with oncology navigator staff from Atlantic Health in the further development of the navigator program at CSMC.
• Affirming the patient's right to make decisions regarding his/her medical care including the decision to discontinue treatment.
• Demonstrating skills and knowledge necessary to assure guidance and education is appropriate to the age and cognitive level of the patients.
• Respecting the rights and personal dignity of the patients and recognizing that each patient is an individual with unique health care needs.
• Recognizing and accepting the cultural diversity of patient and healthcare providers, and its effects on patient care.
• Analyzing artificial intelligence based on information to manage care for patients with incidental findings on radiology studies.
• Reviewing, maintaining, and following up daily on work queue.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing required. Master's degree in Nursing preferred.
• A minimum of 2-3 years of RN experience in Oncology required.
• Current NJ RN License.
• Oncology certification within 1 year of hire preferred.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrates teaching and clinical abilities.
• Demonstrates advanced practice expertise in specialty area.
• Demonstrates nursing leadership, and the ability to expand base of nursing knowledge through support and development of nursing research.
• Strong professional, organizational, and interpersonal skills to effectively relate with all members of the healthcare team.