Nurse Navigator - LG

Pacific Cancer Care•Los Gatos, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Pacific Cancer Care (PCC) is seeking an experienced Oncology Nurse Navigator to serve as a consistent point of contact for patients and families across the cancer care continuum. The Oncology Nurse Navigator removes barriers, coordinates timely diagnostics and treatment, facilitates shared decision-making, and delivers tailored education to support high-quality, patient centered care and outcomes.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited nursing program required.
Current California Registered Nurse (RN) license required.
Oncology certification (OCN or CPHON, CBCN, BMTCN, AOCNP) required.
Current BLS certification required
3–5+ years recent oncology or ambulatory care experience and/or prior navigation/case management experience.
Strong triage and critical thinking skills; adept at coordinating complex care and multidisciplinary communication.
Excellent patient education skills with attention to health literacy, cultural humility, and shared decision making.
Knowledge of payer authorization processes, clinical trial pathways, and community resources.

Nice To Haves

ONN CG (Oncology Nurse Navigator – Certified Generalist) preferred.
ALS preferred.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive, nurse informed assessments of patient needs (symptom burden, psychosocial/SDOH barriers, care preferences) to guide individualized navigation plans.
Monitor for potential oncologic concerns and ensure timely communication to the appropriate clinical team to prevent delays in evaluation or treatment.
Provide holistic, culturally responsive support that integrates patient values, preferences, and goals throughout diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Maintain a strong working knowledge of chemotherapy/immunotherapy regimens, toxicity considerations, and care pathways to anticipate patient needs and support proactive coordination.
Coordinate imaging, procedures (e.g., port placement, biopsy scheduling), referrals (genetics, nutrition, social work, palliative care), and follow up appointments; assist with tracking navigation metrics such as time to treatment.
Review relevant clinical information (labs, staging, pathology summaries) to identify questions or gaps for the treating clinicians and facilitate clear, timely communication.
Provide compassionate education to patients and caregivers regarding diagnosis, treatment options (including clinical trial pathways), expected side effects, and self management strategies.
Connect patients and caregivers to supportive care services and community resources to enhance understanding, coping, and overall care experience.
Serve as a consistent point of contact and advocate for patients across the care continuum, ensuring coordinated transitions between medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, primary care, and community providers.
Support screening for potential clinical trial eligibility and facilitate multidisciplinary discussion (e.g., tumor boards) as appropriate.
Identify barriers to care (transportation, insurance, caregiver burden, financial challenges) and partner with internal teams to address them; document navigation interventions.
Document navigation activities, education, patient needs, and outcomes accurately and promptly in the EMR to support continuity of care and quality reporting.
Adhere to PCC policies, HIPAA, OSHA, ONS, and AONN+ standards related to navigation practice.
Reinforce patient safety expectations within oncology pathways, ensuring patients receive clear guidance on when and how to contact the care team.
Manage an active caseload: support referral review, expedite diagnostic workups, and help facilitate timely treatment starts by coordinating next steps with the care team.
Participate in PCC team meetings, tumor boards, and educational sessions; maintain current knowledge of ONS/AONN+ competencies, NCCN pathways, and best practices in navigation.
Identify opportunities to strengthen navigation workflows and contribute to quality improvement initiatives (e.g., reducing time to treatment, improving patient reported experiences).
Understand prior authorization workflows, referral requirements, and documentation processes that support timely access to care; collaborate with financial counseling, scheduling, and authorization teams as applicable.
Recognize signs of financial toxicity and connect patients with available support programs, resources, and community partners.
Support efficient clinic operations through effective communication, organized coordination, and alignment with PCC’s navigation and operational standards.