Nurse Cancer Navigator

Humboldt Park Health•Chicago, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse Cancer Navigator plays a crucial role in guiding patients and their families through the complexities of cancer care. This position is responsible for coordinating diagnostic testing, consultations, procedures, treatments, and follow-up appointments to ensure timely scheduling and reduce delays in care. The navigator tracks patients throughout their treatment journey, ensuring adherence to recommended care plans and facilitating seamless communication between patients, providers, specialists, and ancillary departments. They also monitor referrals and address any missed appointments or gaps in care. Additionally, the role enhances care coordination among multidisciplinary teams, supports compliance with oncology quality standards and accreditation requirements, and assists with data collection and performance improvement initiatives. The Nurse Cancer Navigator aims to decrease the administrative burden on physicians and staff, improve inter-departmental communication, streamline patient scheduling, and serve as a single point of contact for oncology patients and their families. This position is vital for improving patient retention, increasing treatment completion rates, reducing no-show rates, and maximizing the utilization of oncology-related services, thereby positively impacting both patient outcomes and organizational revenue.

Requirements

Associate Degree in Nursing required.
Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Illinois.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
Minimum three (3) years of nursing experience required.
Knowledge of oncology disease processes, treatment modalities, and supportive care services.
Strong patient advocacy and communication skills.
Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
Knowledge of community resources and support services.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
Proficiency in electronic medical record systems.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
Ability to use computers and office equipment for prolonged periods.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification preferred or obtained within two years of hire.
Minimum two (2) years of oncology nursing experience preferred.
Experience in care coordination, case management, or patient navigation preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Guide patients and families through the cancer care continuum.
Coordinate diagnostic testing, consultations, procedures, treatments, and follow-up appointments.
Ensure timely scheduling of oncology services and reduce delays in care.
Track patients throughout treatment to ensure adherence to recommended care plans.
Facilitate communication between patients, providers, specialists, and ancillary departments.
Monitor referrals and follow up on missed appointments or gaps in care.
Enhanced care coordination among multidisciplinary teams.
Support compliance with oncology quality standards and accreditation requirements.
Assist with data collection, reporting, and performance improvement initiatives.
Improve documentation and tracking of patient outcomes.
Support multidisciplinary cancer conferences and care planning activities.
Decrease administrative burden on physicians, nurses, and clinic staff.
Improve communication among providers and departments.
Streamline patient scheduling and care transitions.
Provide a single point of contact for oncology patients and families.