Navigator Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Three to five years of progressive clinical nursing experience with primary care management of the patient population.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association.
• Oncology certification within two years of employment.
• Strong oncology knowledge.
• Basic knowledge of managed care.
• Working knowledge of insurance coverage and procedures.
• Working knowledge of community resources.
• Understanding of healthcare facilities and processes.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Proficient computer skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous oncology experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Guide patients and families through diagnosis, testing, treatment, follow-up care, and survivorship across the continuum of care.
• Coordinate individual care plans, including answering questions, assisting with referrals and appointment scheduling when appropriate, and providing community resources.
• Provide education and advocacy throughout the care process, including information about diagnosis, treatment options, side-effect management, clinical trials, post-treatment care, and survivorship.
• Connect patients with internal and external services for screening, diagnosis, treatment, clinical research, support services, and follow-up care; refer cases to appropriate resources.
• Coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams and promote timely follow-up on treatment and supportive-care recommendations, including those arising from cancer conferences or tumor boards.
• Address functional, cultural, health-literacy, psychosocial, reproductive or fertility, and spiritual needs of patients, families, and caregivers.
• Identify and reduce barriers to healthcare access, facilitate continuity of care, and ensure culturally sensitive and timely communication and coordination.
• Document, track, and monitor patient data; contribute to quality improvement; and manage assigned caseloads and complex cases.
• Advocate for patient rights, appropriate utilization of services, shared decision-making, and care that reflects patients' goals.
• Help patients and families address financial, psychosocial, functional, and administrative issues by explaining options and referring them to appropriate resources.
• Maintain effective liaison relationships among patients, families, attending physicians, other medical team members, and community resources.
• Provide emotional support, counseling, clinical education, and guidance to patients and families; build therapeutic and trusting relationships.
• Educate patients, families, and caregivers individually and in groups about treatment options, community resources, self-care, and informed decision-making.
• Provide psychosocial support and facilitate referrals, particularly during periods of significant emotional stress and anxiety.
• Encourage patients to engage in care planning and decision-making.
• Promote the healthcare program in the community, including developing written materials and giving public presentations about patient-care and research activities.
• Co-facilitate at least one disease-specific support group in the area of expertise and participate in relevant cancer-care outreach.
• Assess patients' health and psychosocial needs and develop care plans with healthcare providers, patients, and their support systems.
• Educate healthcare delivery team members about treatment options, community resources, and self-care management; serve as a clinical consultant to the team.
• Support patient satisfaction, access to appropriate care, and positive patient outcomes through an integrated care-delivery model and a single point of contact.
• Promote lifelong learning and evidence-based practice for self and others to improve cancer care.
• Collaborate with treating physicians and support staff to help prevent unnecessary hospital, emergency department, or clinic visits and improve treatment adherence through patient education and follow-up.
• Obtain and maintain oncology nursing certification.
• Contribute to the healthcare community's knowledge through professional organizations, presentations, publications, and research.
• Share information about the Oncology Nurse Navigator role through peer education, mentoring, and preceptor experiences; orient and guide novice Oncology Nurse Navigators.
• Collaborate with cancer program administration and the cancer committee on strategies to meet American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and other relevant accreditation requirements.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Team member wellness program.
• Retirement plan with Inova matching the first 5% of eligible contributions, starting on the first day.
• Education assistance of up to $5,250 per year.
• Student loan assistance of up to $10,000.
• Up to 25 mental health coaching or therapy sessions per person per year at no cost for team members, their spouses or partners, and their children.