RN Navigator - Oncology

Carle Health•Peoria, IL

2d•$35 - $57

About The Position

Oncology Nurse Navigators provide resources, support, assessments, referrals, education, care coordination, and general guidance throughout the cancer care continuum. They help patients navigate the healthcare system, promote communication between patients and healthcare providers, eliminate barriers to care, and support timely delivery of quality cancer care. Navigators monitor patients from screening through survivorship and work to ensure patients, survivors, and families are satisfied with their cancer care experience. The role involves assessing and addressing patient needs, coordinating services with the multidisciplinary team, providing education and support, facilitating referrals, and tracking care and program outcomes. Navigators use the nursing process and evidence-based practice to plan, implement, and evaluate care. They also contribute to quality improvement, patient satisfaction, and the development of navigation services.

Requirements

College diploma in Nursing.
Licensed Registered Professional Nurse (RN) through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) within 30 days.
Demonstrated customer service, leadership, initiative, self-direction, cultural sensitivity or language skills, patient triage, nursing practice, problem-solving, and advocacy skills.

Responsibilities

Provide education and support to patients, caregivers, families, healthcare professionals, and communities about cancer and the oncology nurse navigator role.
Serve as the primary contact and advocate for patients and act as a liaison among patients, families, caregivers, and the healthcare team.
Support patients across the cancer continuum and provide or reinforce education on treatment, care plans, symptom management, survivorship, and treatment-plan adherence.
Assess patients’ understanding of their disease and treatment options, discuss physician visits, answer questions, and assist patients with treatment goals and informed decisions.
Apply evidence-based processes, clinical guidelines, specialty resources, and appropriate screening and assessment tools.
Develop oncology-related educational materials and provide community education, attend health fairs and screenings, and participate in support groups and patient or family programs as appropriate.
Maintain awareness of clinical trials, promote trial opportunities and requirements, and engage with research teams as appropriate.
Understand criteria for molecular testing and genetic counseling.
Maintain current oncology knowledge through lifelong learning, continuing education, evidence-based practice, professional organizations, presentations, publications, and research.
Provide information about available services, community resources, and support groups; maintain and use a comprehensive database of local, regional, and national resources.
Contact provider offices to establish referral processes and coordinate referrals and appointments with appropriate specialists and services.
Contact patients at diagnosis, high-stress points, before and after surgery, at therapy initiation, and at other designated touchpoints; meet with patients by phone or in person according to applicable guidelines.
Coordinate timely care throughout the cancer continuum with the multidisciplinary team, including diagnostic testing, treatment, survivorship, hospice, and palliative care services.
Communicate with ancillary departments and healthcare team members to resolve care-delivery problems, support timely services, and ensure appropriate follow-up and test-result communication.
Schedule appointments and, when appropriate, accompany patients to appointments or provide clarification and literacy-appropriate education related to visits.
Assist with transitions to survivorship clinics or primary care and connect patients to prevention services after active treatment.
Facilitate communication with patients, survivors, families, and providers to monitor satisfaction with the cancer care experience.
Provide telephone triage for symptom management, emotional support, education, and resource referral.
Follow patients through the care continuum, address operational and other barriers to care, and support adherence to the treatment plan.
Participate in disease-specific tumor conferences, tumor boards, interdisciplinary meetings, cancer committee meetings, and other meetings; assist with patient selection and preparation for tumor board discussion and follow up on recommendations.
Assess patient needs and barriers to care and make appropriate referrals, including to case managers, social workers, dietitians, financial assistants, genetic counselors, chaplains, counselors, rehabilitation services, home care, hospice, palliative care, interpreters, support groups, and other services.
Assist patients with financial hardship, insurance or access concerns, paperwork, and advance directives, palliative care, and end-of-life concerns; maintain a basic understanding of co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance.
In conjunction with the Department Director, systematically assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care according to the nursing process and accrediting-body standards.
Enter data, prepare reports, track metrics and outcomes, report program outcomes to stakeholders, and maintain disease-site dashboards at least monthly.
Ensure timely and appropriate documentation of patient interactions, diagnostic testing, treatments, education, and referrals in navigation systems and databases; document patient non-compliance.
Assist with navigation-program assessment, identify process-improvement opportunities, develop action plans, and implement and measure quality and process improvement initiatives.
Identify opportunities to improve patient satisfaction, care quality, program performance, and financial contribution or cost savings.
Evaluate own practice against job-specific performance expectations and ensure navigator functions meet physician expectations and remain within the defined role.
Develop collaborative relationships internally and externally, share best practices with other navigators, and partner with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and community resources to provide coordinated, compassionate care.
Perform environmental scanning for industry innovations and changes; perform job duties in an organized and time-conscious manner and demonstrate problem-solving, initiative, and a productive work ethic.