Oncology - Children's and Women's Hospital

USA Health•Mobile, AL

About The Position

USA Health is seeking a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse Navigator to coordinate quality, comprehensive care for pediatric hematology and oncology patients in the inpatient setting at Children's & Women's Hospital and the outpatient setting at Strada Patient Care Center. The role supports patients and families across the cancer continuum, from diagnosis and treatment through survivorship and end-of-life care, and promotes timely access to appropriate care, prevention, self-management, and shared decision-making. The Nurse Navigator serves as a primary contact, advocate, educator, and informational resource for patients, families, caregivers, and the multidisciplinary care team. The position coordinates treatment roadmaps, supportive care plans, appointments, tests, procedures, and services across care sites; monitors progress and barriers; and helps families access clinical trials, survivorship programs, and psychosocial support. The navigator builds trusting relationships with children and caregivers and provides developmentally appropriate, family-centered education. Care is expected to be trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and language-concordant, including use of qualified interpreters. The role maintains accurate and timely electronic medical record documentation, participates in daily inpatient rounds and outpatient huddles, and communicates a unified, current plan of care. Employees must complete mandatory requirements, follow infection-control and safety standards, attend regularly and promptly, work the defined schedule and overtime as required, and perform related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution and 5 years of professional nursing experience, including 3 years in pediatric hematology or oncology; or graduation from an accredited school of nursing and 7 years of professional nursing experience, including 5 years in pediatric hematology or oncology.
RN state licensure and/or compact state licensure in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact for Alabama upon hire.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification within 180 days.
Ability to use good judgment and work independently and in a team setting.
Ability to complete tasks in a timely and accurate manner.
Ability to work with a diverse population of patients, families, visitors, and providers.
Excellent communication and computer skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree may substitute for one year of required experience.
Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON) certification.
Oncology Nurse Certification (OCN).
Certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) experience.
Comparable combination of education and experience may substitute for the stated requirements.

Responsibilities

Coordinate quality, comprehensive care for patients in the inpatient setting at Children's & Women's Hospital and the outpatient setting at Strada Patient Care Center.
Promote timely access to appropriate care, reduce emergency room visits, increase use of preventive care, and support patient self-management and shared decision-making.
Represent the multidisciplinary team as an advocate, interpreter, and educator for hematology and oncology patients and their families.
Align chemotherapy roadmaps, supportive care plans, and procedure schedules across care sites, and monitor and address barriers such as transportation, housing, language, and caregiver availability.
Serve as the primary contact, advocate, and informational resource for patients, the care team, and families or caregivers.
Provide care coordination and guidance from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care.
Monitor patient progress and facilitate changes as needed, supporting patients and families in determining and requesting their desired level of care coordination.
Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for oncology patients on an ongoing basis.
Build trusting relationships with children and caregivers and provide developmentally appropriate, family-centered education on diagnosis, treatment, side-effect management, and when to call.
Document patient teaching and respond to information requests about disease processes, expected treatment side effects, and community resources.
Support families during difficult decision-making and provide emotional support while coordinating care for patients and families.
Help coordinate tests, procedures, appointments, and treatments, and assist patients in overcoming barriers to care, including transportation and financial concerns.
Refer patients to supportive care services, including nutritionists, social workers, counselors, and financial counselors.
Coordinate care with clinical-trial coordinators for eligible patients and assist with survivorship programs.
Participate in multidisciplinary consultations and tumor conferences and serve as a liaison between patients, medical staff, and services.
Participate in daily inpatient rounds and outpatient huddles and maintain and communicate a unified, up-to-date plan of care.
Identify and remove barriers to timely cancer care, including social determinants of health, transportation, financial, and cultural factors.
Maintain accurate, timely electronic medical record documentation, including navigation notes, education provided, and care plans.
Provide education and resources that support informed decision-making and timely access to health and psychosocial care.
Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and language-concordant care, using qualified interpreters.
Complete mandatory department, educational, and hospital requirements and adhere to infection-control and safety standards.
Maintain regular and prompt attendance, work the defined schedule and overtime as required, and perform related duties as assigned.