Clinical Nurse Navigator - Surgical Specialties

Good Shepherd Health Care•Hermiston, OR

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse Navigator provides comprehensive clinical and administrative support to healthcare providers in the Surgical Specialties Clinic. The role coordinates direct patient care, electronic health record management, referrals, prior authorizations, surgery scheduling, and clinic operations. The navigator guides patients between the clinic and OR/cath lab settings, provides pre- and post-operative vascular education, and coordinates care with patients, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams. The position oversees program planning, implementation, organization, reporting, and process improvement. It tracks program progress and outcomes, analyzes quality and patient-satisfaction measures, and collaborates with surgeons, hospital administration, nursing leadership, clinic administration, and staff. The Clinic RN Navigator works under the supervision of the Clinic Nursing Supervisor or Practice Manager as part of an integrated healthcare team. Clinical duties include nursing assessments and vascular surgery visits, wound care, medication and treatment administration, assistance with procedures, diagnostic testing, patient triage and education, and accurate documentation in Epic. The role also supports clinic workflow, staff collaboration, quality initiatives, and regulatory compliance. The position is primarily in an indoor healthcare environment and may involve work across medical specialties within Good Shepherd Medical Group. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as patient-care needs and clinic operations dictate is required.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing.
Current, unrestricted Oregon Registered Nurse license.
Current BLS certification.
Ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
Knowledge of computers, phones, and other office equipment.
Knowledge of clinical equipment, including EKGs, vital-sign monitoring devices, glucometers, scales, and laboratory testing equipment.
Strong assessment and critical-thinking skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
Proficiency in patient education and health promotion.
Ability to work independently and prioritize multiple tasks effectively.
Ability to meet the position's physical and sensory requirements, with reasonable accommodations as applicable, including continuous walking and standing; occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling; lifting up to 50 pounds independently; frequent pushing, pulling, carrying, or repositioning of objects or patients up to 25 pounds; and occasional lifting or transferring of individuals over 100 pounds using appropriate techniques, aids, or team assistance.
Ability to work in an indoor healthcare environment with frequent exposure to infectious and contagious diseases, hazardous materials, and medical equipment, and to follow safety protocols and use PPE as required.
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as patient-care needs and clinic operations dictate.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
Specialty certification relevant to the assigned clinic area, such as RVT for Vascular Surgery or CGRN for Gastroenterology.
Bilingual ability and/or English-Spanish speaking ability.
At least 2 years of clinical nursing experience.
Experience with the Epic electronic health record system.
Knowledge of evidence-based practice and quality improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

Initiate clinical program project plans and establish and maintain project completion schedules.
Ensure the program meets applicable state and federal accreditation standards.
Introduce patients to the Health System and serve as a consistent contact for patients and families throughout diagnosis and treatment.
Navigate patients between clinic and OR/cath lab settings and support efficient patient flow to surgery.
Review medication lists and provide support to providers, including in other areas of the surgical specialties clinic as needed.
Provide individualized information, support, and education to patients and families.
Coordinate consultation and physician appointments; notify primary and specialty care providers of hospital admissions when applicable.
Reinforce and assess pre- and post-operative instructions and provide additional education as appropriate.
Guide and coordinate patient and caregiver care across the continuum of care.
Collect, review, and analyze program data monthly; display data on dashboards and develop action plans based on outcomes.
Monitor performance-improvement measures and other metrics; analyze quantitative, qualitative, and benchmark data and share findings with leadership and senior management.
Identify patient and provider needs and develop evidence-based quality programs and services.
Coordinate community and professional education activities with clinic leadership, Marketing, and outreach/education coordinators; assist in developing and presenting educational programs.
Maintain knowledge of evidence-based and best practices; revise and monitor educational materials for clarity and program standards.
Protect patient confidentiality and support the hospital's mission, vision, values, policies, and procedures.
Participate in required DNV program education, as applicable.
Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments and vascular surgery-specific visits, including pre-operative workups and post-operative follow-up.
Perform post-operative wound checks, dressing changes, and wound care management, including monitoring graft and incision sites as applicable.
Administer medications, injections, immunizations, and treatments as ordered by physicians.
Assist with vascular surgery procedures and examinations, including ABI testing, wound vac management, and preparation for OR and cath lab cases.
Monitor vital signs, document patient responses, recognize changes in condition, and respond appropriately.
Perform diagnostic tests such as EKGs, spirometry, glucose monitoring, and CLIA-waived laboratory tests within scope of practice.
Conduct focused nursing visits for blood pressure monitoring, suture or staple removal, injections, weight checks, and routine procedures.
Monitor and triage Epic InBasket messages, provide telephone triage, respond to portal messages and calls within established timeframes, and accurately document interactions in Epic.
Manage referrals, coordinate care between specialties, assist with prior authorizations, and process prescription refill requests in coordination with referral staff and providers.
Educate patients and families about diseases, medications, treatment plans, vascular conditions and procedures, post-operative care, lifestyle changes, diagnostic procedures, test preparation, treatment options, and discharge instructions.
Work with physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, ancillary departments, external providers, and multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care.
Mentor and guide medical assistants and other support staff; assist with rooming patients, exam room preparation, supply inventory, scheduling, and phone coverage as needed.
Follow clinic policies, procedures, safety protocols, and regulatory requirements, including OSHA, HIPAA, and DNV standards.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives and clinical outcome measurement; follow infection-control and sterilization practices and help maintain a safe therapeutic environment.
Perform other related duties as assigned; work across medical specialties within Good Shepherd Medical Group as assigned.
Work evenings, weekends, and holidays as patient-care needs and clinic operations dictate.