Oncology Patient Navigator - Full-Time

Erlanger Health System • Chattanooga, TN

4h

About The Position

The role of the Oncology Nurse Navigator is to partner with patients and their families as they journey from suspicion of disease through treatment and survivorship creating seamless transitions via established care pathways. This is accomplished through multidisciplinary interaction, symptom assessment and nursing management, education, care coordination, resource allocation and communication as identified by continuous needs assessments. The expectations are that the navigator function autonomously and will demonstrate professional behavior as he/she interfaces with the community, healthcare team and the patients. In addition, he/she will be accountable for tracking identified navigational and quality metrics as well as implementation of interventions to attain and maintain set metrics.

The Oncology Nurse Navigator is responsible for ensuring coordinated quality, seamless, and comprehensive services throughout the disease/wellness continuum from screening through survivorship, The navigator functions on the multidisciplinary team as an advocate, interpreter, educator, clinical liaison, counselor and collaborator for oncology patients and their caregivers. He/She will identify patient's potential and realized barriers to care and will work to attain resources to mitigate those barriers. He/She will develop relationships with primary care physicians to assist in education on patient screenings, create increased ease of access to oncology services and transition of patient to and from the primary care-provider's practice. The navigator will partner with community organizations such as the American Cancer Society and American Lung Association in outreach opportunities. He/She will attend and promote wellness activities and screening programs at area health fairs. The navigator will act as a liaison within the facility and in the community promoting awareness of services that are provided by Erlanger's Cancer Center in the fight against cancer. He/She will assist, as deemed appropriate, in research activities. He/She will work with the oncology leadership team to collect data, track outcomes and support the strategic planning processes. He/She will develop and deliver quarterly reports to the Erlanger Cancer Committee on identified outcome metrics attained through performance improvement activities. He/She will work to ensure compliance with the American College of Surgeons Commission of Cancer (ACoS/CoC) standards. He/She will be accountable for researching and networking to seek grant funding opportunities for the designated programs. The Navigator is able to facilitate cancer support groups as necessary to improve quality of life and survivorship. He/She will deliver compassionate, holistic care, while supporting the rights and dignity of all patients.

The Oncology Nurse Navigator demonstrates knowledge, skill and competency when applying evidence based practices, theory, principles and processes of professional nursing. He/She will have experience working collaboratively with medical teams and has the ability to build and maintain solid interdepartmental relationships. The Navigator is knowledgeable of current methods of treatment, new pharmaceutical agents, available community resources, insurance, financial assistance, counseling and support services. The Navigator will ensure that all personal, patient and departmental safety guidelines are upheld.

Requirements

• Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (required within 2 years of hire).
• 1 year nursing experience
• Current licensure to practice nursing in the state of Tennessee.
• BLS completed prior to going to the unit/ department and maintained going forward
• Tennessee licensure or multistate licensure from a compact state must be obtained within three months of hire for non-Tennessee residents.

Nice To Haves

• BSN
• Greater than 2 years Oncology experience
• Outpatient Oncology Care, prior educator or navigation experience
• Oncology Nursing Certification (OCN), or required within 2 years, and other specialty certification as appropriate within 2 years as determined by manager.

Responsibilities

• Partner with patients and their families as they journey from suspicion of disease through treatment and survivorship creating seamless transitions via established care pathways.
• Multidisciplinary interaction, symptom assessment and nursing management, education, care coordination, resource allocation and communication as identified by continuous needs assessments.
• Function autonomously and will demonstrate professional behavior as he/she interfaces with the community, healthcare team and the patients.
• Accountable for tracking identified navigational and quality metrics as well as implementation of interventions to attain and maintain set metrics.
• Ensuring coordinated quality, seamless, and comprehensive services throughout the disease/wellness continuum from screening through survivorship
• Functions on the multidisciplinary team as an advocate, interpreter, educator, clinical liaison, counselor and collaborator for oncology patients and their caregivers.
• Identify patient's potential and realized barriers to care and will work to attain resources to mitigate those barriers.
• Develop relationships with primary care physicians to assist in education on patient screenings, create increased ease of access to oncology services and transition of patient to and from the primary care-provider's practice.
• Partner with community organizations such as the American Cancer Society and American Lung Association in outreach opportunities.
• Attend and promote wellness activities and screening programs at area health fairs.
• Act as a liaison within the facility and in the community promoting awareness of services that are provided by Erlanger's Cancer Center in the fight against cancer.
• Assist, as deemed appropriate, in research activities.
• Work with the oncology leadership team to collect data, track outcomes and support the strategic planning processes.
• Develop and deliver quarterly reports to the Erlanger Cancer Committee on identified outcome metrics attained through performance improvement activities.
• Work to ensure compliance with the American College of Surgeons Commission of Cancer (ACoS/CoC) standards.
• Accountable for researching and networking to seek grant funding opportunities for the designated programs.
• Facilitate cancer support groups as necessary to improve quality of life and survivorship.
• Deliver compassionate, holistic care, while supporting the rights and dignity of all patients.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level