Nurse Navigator - Cancer Center Navigation & Intake

The University of Kansas Health System•Westwood, KS

19h

About The Position

The Nurse Navigator is a licensed registered professional nurse and clinical expert who promotes evidence-based nursing interventions for a specialty area or specific patient population. The role spans care settings and focuses on improving access, timeliness of treatment, and care coordination within the health care organization. The navigator assesses new patients’ needs before their first specialist visit, connects patients with appropriate support services, and provides educational and emotional support during intake and treatment planning. The navigator coordinates appointments, medical information, and diagnostic studies to help expedite treatment, and remains a resource for patients throughout their care. The role also supports quality improvement, program goals, clinical staff, and communication among patients, physicians, and other health care professionals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nursing.
At least 3 years of nursing experience.
At least 1 year of case management, ambulatory care coordination, or other related experience relevant to the patient population being navigated.
Current active multistate Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing in the state where the employee lives. Staff hired before February 1, 2024, must obtain a multistate RN license from their state of residence by their next renewal and no later than April 30, 2026.
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS or BCLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
Basic computer skills for data entry and electronic medical record use.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in nursing.
At least 5 years of nursing experience.
Specialized certification for the specific patient population being navigated, such as OCN.

Responsibilities

Assess new patients referred to a specialist before their first visit to identify support-service and resource needs.
Document patient assessments and interventions in the electronic medical record.
Refer patients to specialty program support services based on navigation needs assessments.
Provide educational and emotional support during intake and treatment planning, and remain a resource throughout the patient’s care.
Ensure patients are scheduled with the appropriate multidisciplinary provider, at the appropriate location and within the appropriate time frame.
Collaborate with intake schedulers to ensure necessary medical information, including imaging and pathology slides when applicable, is complete and available for the first appointment.
Coordinate diagnostic studies before the first visit when possible to expedite treatment.
Develop relationships with referring physicians and communicate follow-up and treatment plans.
Complete intake logs and report monthly to the program manager for outcome metric reporting.
Demonstrate critical thinking, interpersonal, and technical skills, and provide care safely and efficiently.
Serve as a liaison and resource for patients, physicians, and other health care professionals involved in patient care.
Assist the Nurse Manager in developing clinical goals and objectives for the Nurse Navigation Program.
Promote service excellence in interactions with patients, families, health care providers, and hospital staff.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives using relevant information, databases, and benchmarks.
Contribute to the efficient, economic, and competent performance of the hospital.
Maintain current knowledge of trends, issues, research, and health-related resources relevant to the patient population served.
Consult with nursing and clinical staff on patients with complex health problems requiring specialized nursing care.
Demonstrate leadership by participating in department and hospital committees, councils, and task forces.
Perform the professional, clinical, and technical competencies of the assigned unit or department; other duties may be assigned.