Registered Nurse (RN) Oncology Navigator

Lifepoint Health•Hickory, NC

About The Position

The Nurse Oncology Navigator provides individualized assistance to tumor site-specific patients and their families to overcome barriers to care, access timely services, and receive education and support. The navigator coordinates the cancer patient’s journey through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, helping ensure care is seamless and coordinated. The role also follows patients through the continuum of care, including inpatient admissions, and serves as a primary contact and advocate for patients and caregivers. This position is full-time, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with no weekends or on-call duties. It offers a collaborative team culture and diverse clinical experience. A $20,000 commitment-incentive bonus is advertised. Frye Regional Medical Center is a 355-bed hospital serving the Hickory, North Carolina community since 1911. It offers acute care and services including brain, heart, cancer, emergency, surgical, orthopedic, birthing, and inpatient rehabilitation services.

Requirements

Current active North Carolina RN license (single-state) or compact license; relocating nurses must update licensure to the new Primary State of Residence before employment begins.
Basic Life Support certification required within 30 days of hire.
Three or more years of RN Oncology experience required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to coordinate patient care.
Educate patients and caregivers about the disease process, treatment, side effects, and survivorship.
Coordinate referrals within Frye and across the region.
Provide emotional support related to the patient’s clinical condition.
Advocate for patients and caregivers to support appropriate use of resources.
Implement and measure quality improvement initiatives.
Communicate consistently with providers to support a seamless plan of care and follow-up.
Assess patients, identify individual needs and barriers to care, locate resources, coordinate services, educate patients about treatment side effects, and develop structured ways for patients to report concerns.
Follow patients through the continuum of care, including inpatient admissions, and collaborate with inpatient care management resources.
Serve as the primary patient contact and advocate, build and maintain trust with patients and families, navigate healthcare systems, and help ensure timely access to care.
Serve as a point of contact for providers and foster communication with treating physicians, primary care physicians, and their support staff.
Establish referral pathways and work with the oncology team and physician network to reduce treatment delays and support best practices.
Serve as an active member of the Cancer Committee and participate in tumor board conferences.
Work with Cancer Registry staff and others to collect data, track outcomes, and support strategic planning.
Maintain accurate, complete documentation and ongoing assessments of the role’s impact on disparities in care.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage at multiple levels for full-time and part-time employees.
Life, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Paid family leave and paid time off.
Higher education and certification tuition assistance.
Loan assistance.
401(k) retirement package with company match.
Wellness programs, including free gym memberships, virtual care appointments, mental health services, and discount programs.
Ongoing learning and career advancement opportunities.
$20,000 commitment-incentive bonus.