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 care and implementing creative, innovative approaches to meet patients’ diverse needs and ensure best practices. Citi Trained Certified, or must obtain certification within three months of hire. The role includes assessing patient needs and barriers to care, arranging referrals and support services, reviewing records and test results, coordinating appointments and treatment plans, and providing education and psychosocial support. The Nurse Navigator also supports clinical trial referrals, tumor board follow-up, survivorship planning, community outreach, program development, and performance improvement while maintaining appropriate documentation and compliance with applicable policies and regulations.

Requirements

Citi Trained Certified, or able to obtain certification within three months of hire.
Three 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 the initial encounter 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 care and promote continuity.
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 questions from patients and caregivers.
Work with oncology administrators to understand changes in reporting metrics.
Communicate with physicians by phone, email, or in person regarding new patient referrals and scheduling priorities.
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 pre- and post-operative education and educate patients about survivorship, post-treatment transitions, and wellness and cancer-prevention strategies.
Assist with identifying survivors and delivering survivorship care plans; remain available to patients and families throughout treatment and survivorship.
Advocate for patients and support end-of-life and palliative-care decisions.
Administer psychosocial screening at intake and repeat it at regular intervals or as needed.
Refer patients to social workers, financial counselors, or support services; facilitate scheduling and monitor follow-through.
Contact patients by phone on the day before surgery or treatment starts to ensure they know what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.
Facilitate shared decision-making among patients, caregivers, families, and the care team; support transitions into survivorship, chronic cancer management, and end-of-life care.
Promote advance care planning by helping patients prepare discussions with their care teams.
Perform preliminary screening of patients who may be eligible 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 when 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, and assist in developing patient education materials.
Develop collaborative relationships with local individuals, agencies, and organizations that provide cancer education and patient support.
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 nurse navigator program and role development, implementation, and evaluation within the healthcare system and community.
Attend staff and other meetings as needed; participate in a Nursing Council or Nursing Committee.
Comply with mandatory in-service and employee health procedures, facility policies, and applicable HIPAA, ACHA, TJC, and OSHA standards and regulations.
Actively support and participate in performance-improvement activities and national professional organizations.