Nurse Navigator 1 (H)

University of Miami•Miami, FL

About The Position

The Nurse Navigator (RN) 1 (H) is the initial point of contact for patients entering the health system. The role ensures timely scheduling of the first appointment, coordinates care after that appointment, and supports patients throughout the care continuum. The Nurse Navigator serves as a liaison among patients, families, caregivers, and the multidisciplinary care team, demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care and using creative, innovative approaches to meet patients’ diverse needs and ensure best practices. The position provides navigation and clinical support across the cancer care continuum, including patient assessment, coordination of referrals and appointments, education, psychosocial support, survivorship planning, and assistance with clinical trial referrals. It also contributes to program development, process improvement, community outreach, and compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Citi Trained Certified, or must obtain certification within 3 months of hire.
3 years of specialty experience or relevant navigation experience.
Ability to perform job duties as an independent professional and as a team player.
Organizational skills sufficient to set priorities and facilitate work-team progress.

Responsibilities

Assess patient needs at initial contact and periodically throughout navigation; connect unmet needs with appropriate referrals and support services.
Identify actual or potential barriers to care and facilitate referrals to help mitigate them.
Review medical records, test results, and other documentation required for the first visit.
Verify timely scheduling of appointments, diagnostic testing, and procedures to expedite and maintain continuity of care.
Coordinate the plan of care with the multidisciplinary team and promote timely follow-up on treatment and supportive-care recommendations.
Serve as a liaison for patients, families, caregivers, staff, and referring physicians.
Orient and educate patients, families, and caregivers about the cancer healthcare system, multidisciplinary team roles, and available resources.
Explain treatment recommendations and appropriately answer patient and caregiver questions.
Work with oncology administrators to understand changes in reporting metrics.
Communicate with physicians about new patient referrals and scheduling priorities by phone, email, or in person.
Identify bottlenecks in patient pathways and gaps in care, and propose process improvements.
Coordinate patient-care activities with other staff and participate in providing supportive-care services.
Refer patients to local and national community support groups and services.
Identify and document individual patient barriers to learning; educate patients and families about disease processes, treatment options, and potential side effects.
Assist patients with treatment decision-making and develop or use decision aids as appropriate.
Provide preoperative and postoperative education to all groups.
Educate patients about survivorship and the post-treatment transition, remain available for questions throughout treatment and survivorship, and assist with identifying survivors and delivering survivorship care plans.
Advocate for patients and support end-of-life and palliative-care decisions; promote advance-care planning by helping patients prepare discussions with their care teams.
Educate patients and families about diet, exercise, smoking cessation, wellness, and cancer-prevention strategies.
Administer psychosocial screening at intake and repeat it at regular intervals or as needed.
Refer patients to social workers, financial counselors, and support services as needed; facilitate scheduling and monitor follow-through.
Contact patients by phone the day before surgery or treatment starts to explain what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.
Facilitate shared decision-making among patients, caregivers, families, and the care team.
Support transitions from active treatment to survivorship, chronic cancer management, and end-of-life care.
Perform preliminary screening of patients who may be eligible for or interested in clinical trials and facilitate referrals to the clinical trials program.
Attend Tumor Board Conference and coordinate care recommended after the conference.
Communicate with the tumor registry as needed.
Solicit and record feedback from referring physicians and their staff, and develop recommendations to improve clinical operations.
Meet with potential physician referral sources to provide information about the cancer center and related programs.
Document patient encounters and services provided.
Assist in developing patient education materials and build collaborative relationships with local cancer education and support organizations.
Collaborate with community outreach programs to increase awareness of cancer, cancer prevention, and regular screening.
Perform duties independently and as a team member; organize priorities and facilitate team progress.
Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of the nurse navigator program and role within the healthcare system and community.
Attend staff and other meetings as needed and participate in a Nursing Council or Nursing Committee.
Complete mandatory in-service and employee health procedures and comply with facility policies and applicable HIPPA, ACHA, TJC, and OSHA standards and regulations.
Participate in performance-improvement activities and engage as an active member of national professional organizations.