Treatment Nurse Navigator - Internal Medicine - Main

MD Anderson Cancer Center • Houston, TX

37d • $101,000 - $152,000

About The Position

MD Anderson's Internal Medicine division provides cancer patients with the full spectrum of evidence-based cancer and internal medicine diagnostic evaluations, treatments, supportive care and prevention. The primary purpose of the Treatment Nurse Navigator position is to provide individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers, offering education and resources to help promote informed decision making and access to quality medical and supportive care services, helping circumvent barriers to care in the healthcare system from their first visit to and through all phases of the disease-state experience and beyond to survivorship. The Treatment Nurse Navigator works closely with Service Line physicians, care team and across the organization in all specialty areas to coordinate the patient’s plan of care, communicating with all members of the Service Line team on behalf of the patient. The ideal Treatment Nurse Navigator will have a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and five years of professional oncology nursing or oncology nurse navigation experience. OCN Certification is a plus. Shift: Typical M-F day shift Salary: $101,000 Minimum - $126,500 Midpoint - $152,000 Maximum Why Us? Joining MD Anderson as a Treatment Nurse Navigator offers the opportunity to directly influence patient outcomes while growing professionally in a world‑renowned cancer center. This role supports meaningful contributions to multidisciplinary care, allows for strong collaboration with expert clinical teams, and promotes balanced, fulfilling work aligned with MD Anderson’s mission of excellence. Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance. Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options. Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups. Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Requirements

• Education Required: Bachelor's Degree Nursing.
• Work Experience Required: Five years Professional oncology nursing or oncology nurse navigation experience.
• May substitute required degree with an Associate's degree in Nursing and seven years of professional oncology nursing or oncology nurse navigation experience.
• LICENSES/ CERTIFICATIONS Required: RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure State of Texas Professional Nursing License (RN), BLS - Basic Life Support Upon Hire or CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation Certification Upon Hire

Nice To Haves

• Preferred: Master's Degree Nursing.
• Preferred: OCN - Oncology Nurse Certification National certification in Oncology and specialty practice area, ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification as required by patient care area, PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire

Responsibilities

• Care Coordination and Communication
• Develop relationship with patient after first appointment to establish a consistent point of contact for the patient throughout the treatment phase of their cancer journey.
• Assess patient, family and caregiver needs post 1st visit and upon initial encounter to treatment and periodically throughout the full continuum of care, including assessing changes in psychosocial, financial and emotional occurring due to treatment.
• Perform distress screening and making referrals to appropriate disciplines and documenting accordingly
• Follow patient transitions between ambulatory care and inpatient services, collaborating with care management resources in both settings.
• Coordinate appointments for consults with support services within established service standards, including social workers, dieticians, genetic counselors, therapists, and others as appropriate throughout the treatment journey.
• Assist the patient with any matters related to treatment goals, advance directives, palliative care, and end-of-life concerns using an ethical framework.
• Apply knowledge of payer requirements and insurance processes and their impact on referrals and patient care decisions to establish appropriate referrals, as requested or needed
• Promote collaboration and communication among healthcare team members, other colleagues, and organizations to promote and protect the best interests of patients.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Education
• Provide education related to oncology diagnosis, treatment, support services and local or national resources.
• Educate patient, family and caregiver to clinical trials, coordinating with the clinical care team and cancer research team.
• Communication
• Communicate any concerns and perform patient follow-up about timely coordination of appointments, tests and procedures to the appropriate scheduling or care team members.
• Perform outreach efforts across MD Anderson to establish and maintain positive working relationships with key ambulatory and inpatient care team “customers”—faculty, departments, APPs, nursing, case managers, social services, and others.
• Documentation
• Develop concise patient summaries for use by the care team and document recommendations made utilizing standardized care protocols in accordance with nationally recognized care guidelines.
• Utilize navigation evidence-based tools developed to assess patient, family and caregiver needs such as pain, fatigue, and performance status.
• Professional Development and Performance
• Participate in multidisciplinary tumor conferences and monitor recommendations for appropriateness with NCCN or other national guidelines.
• Participate in performance improvement activities to enhance the patient, family and/or caregiver experience across the continuum.
• Complete mandatory training, education and annual core competencies programs as outlined by MD Anderson.
• Develop knowledge of available local and national resources for patients and families.
• Adhere to established productivity benchmarks/caseload expectations and documentation requirements that inform navigation program performance.

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, paid time off , retirement , tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees