Oncology Nurse Navigator

Pacific Cancer Care•Monterey, CA

18h•$77 - $97•Onsite

About The Position

The Oncology Nurse Navigator guides patients and families through every step of cancer care at Pacific Cancer Care, from referral through treatment, survivorship and, when needed, end-of-life care. Serving as the patient's main clinical point of contact, the navigator removes barriers to timely care and helps patients understand their diagnosis, treatment plan and next steps. The role manages a panel of approximately 40 to 70 active patients and combines clinical assessment and symptom triage with care coordination, education and advocacy. Success is measured in part by how promptly and smoothly patients progress from diagnosis to treatment and how supported they feel throughout care. The navigator works with medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion, diagnostic imaging, surgeons, hospitals and community partners. The position has no direct reports, but may provide clinical guidance, training and workflow support to medical assistants, patient care coordinators, schedulers and other team members. The role is based at Pacific Cancer Care in Monterey, California, and is scheduled Monday through Friday.

Requirements

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
Current, unrestricted California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
At least five years of clinical nursing experience.
Strong clinical assessment and triage skills and sound independent judgment.
Working knowledge of cancer types, treatment modalities, common side effects and supportive care.
Exceptional organization and ability to manage many patients and priorities at once.
Clear, compassionate communication with patients, families and the care team, including during difficult conversations.
Cultural humility and ability to work with patients from diverse backgrounds.
Strong computer skills and experience with oncology EMR systems.
Commitment to patient privacy, professionalism and service excellence.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®) certification, or ability to obtain it within two years of hire.
Oncology Nurse Navigator certification (ONN-CG) or Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN®).
ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Certificate, or ability to obtain it within the first year.
At least three years of oncology nursing experience.
Experience in oncology navigation, infusion, radiation oncology, medical oncology or case management.
Experience in an outpatient or physician practice setting.
Familiarity with NCCN guidelines, oncology quality standards and payer authorization processes.
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Contact newly referred patients promptly, ideally within one business day, to introduce navigation services and begin coordinating care.
Confirm referral records, pathology, imaging and laboratory results are available before initial consultations.
Coordinate with scheduling and authorization teams to arrange timely consultations, testing and treatment starts.
Assess and address barriers to care, including transportation, finances, insurance, language, health literacy, caregiver support, housing and food security.
Manage an assigned panel of oncology patients across diagnosis, consultation, treatment planning, infusion, radiation therapy, surgery, survivorship and supportive care.
Coordinate multidisciplinary care and handoffs among oncology teams, surgery, imaging, hospitals and outside specialists.
Track patient progress against expected timelines and intervene when care is delayed, tests are missing or appointments are missed.
Prepare patient information for and participate in tumor boards and multidisciplinary case conferences as requested.
Identify potential clinical trial candidates and refer them to providers or research staff.
Coordinate transitions of care, including hospital admissions and discharges and referrals to home health, palliative care and hospice.
Triage calls, portal messages and symptom concerns using approved protocols, standardized procedures and nursing judgment.
Assess treatment-related symptoms and side effects, provide self-care guidance and escalate urgent or emergent concerns to physicians and APPs.
Conduct or follow up on distress screening and connect patients with social work, counseling, nutrition, financial counseling and other supportive services.
Document assessments, communications and interventions accurately and promptly in the electronic medical record.
Support physicians and APPs in coordinating and carrying out treatment plans.
Review orders, referrals and supporting documents for completeness, and confirm required records, tests, consents and authorizations are in place before treatment.
Coordinate treatment start dates and confirm patient readiness, including completion of education and resolution of questions.
Support adherence to evidence-based treatment pathways, including NCCN guidelines, and practice protocols.
Educate patients and families about diagnoses, treatment options, medications, side effects, visits and when and how to seek help.
Use teach-back and plain language, adapting education for language, culture and health literacy.
Reinforce physician and APP recommendations and help patients prepare questions for their care team.
Support survivorship planning, including treatment summaries, follow-up schedules and long-term side-effect management.
Act as a liaison among patients, caregivers, clinicians, staff and outside health care organizations; respond promptly and close the loop when issues are resolved.
Advocate for patients' preferences, goals of care and needs, and connect them with community resources, financial assistance, transportation and support groups.
Review incoming medical records, results and consultation notes, route them to the appropriate provider, and ensure outside records are incorporated into the chart and treatment plan.
Maintain complete, timely and compliant documentation supporting quality, accreditation and regulatory standards.
Track navigation metrics such as referral-to-first-visit time, diagnosis-to-treatment time, barriers identified and resolved, and patient satisfaction.
Participate in quality improvement projects and recommend process changes to reduce delays and improve patient experience.
Follow practice policies, California Board of Registered Nursing standards, HIPAA and professional oncology nursing standards.
Contribute to a safe, healthy, harmonious, positive, productive and professional work environment, and perform other duties as needed or assigned.