Job Description
The Clinical Nurse Navigator uses their oncology-specific clinical knowledge to offer individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to help overcome healthcare system barriers. Using the nursing process, a Clinical Nurse Navigator provides education and resources to facilitate informed decision making and timely access to quality health and psychosocial care throughout all phases of the cancer continuum. The Clinical Nurse Navigator is responsible for routine nursing aspects of the program, which include clinical care, telephone triage, symptom management, management of patients on oral chemotherapy, data gathering and chart updating, patient education, and monitoring and follow-up of patients. The Clinical Nurse Navigator will work collaboratively with schedulers, medical assistants, non-clinical navigators, infusion nurses, and physicians in carrying out day to day aspects of clinical operations.
Responsibilities
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assumes nursing care responsibilities for a defined group of patients within hematology/oncology, including but not limited to assessment, education, coordination, and documentation.
- Point of contact for physicians, patients, and caregivers to assist with patients' coordination of care.
- Supports a smooth transition of patients from diagnosis and active treatment into survivorship, chronic cancer management, and end-of-life care.
- Serves as a liaison with the multidisciplinary team members and various departments / specialties (both inside and outside of TCH) in order to integrate pertinent patient information for the seamless continuum of care.
- Receive and triage patient telephone calls and intervene appropriately for that patient’s specific needs in a timely manner. Alert physician as needed to patients that require physician intervention.
- Follow up with patient as needed by telephone, to ensure compliance with treatment guidelines and to evaluate changing or uncertain clinical situations.
- Works closely with Financial Advocates to facilitate financial support for all modalities of treatments.
- Works closely with Prior Authorization team to facilitate authorizations for all needed treatments.
- Provides psychosocial support to and facilitates appropriate referrals for patients, families and caregivers.
- Develop standardized care plan with the physicians including referrals, bone marrow transplants, drug protocols and clinical trials.
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary team to create and/or update patient’s plan of care, which is feasible and understandable to the patient, family and caregivers.
- Develop and deliver patient education.
- Uses technologies (e.g., EMR, My Chart, etc.) to enhance communication among patients and health care providers.
- Develop and utilize documentation tools to track encounters (e.g., follow up mailings, emails, phone calls, interactions, etc.) of Clinical Nurse Navigator with patients, families, and caregivers.
- Demonstrates leadership skills such as the ability to motivate, educate, delegate, and mentor peers and other members of the healthcare team while effectively managing the care of patients and family members. - Report outcomes of Patient Navigation program to appropriate leaders and team members.
- Must be willing to travel and work at other offices when the need arises.
- Other duties as assigned.
Professional Development:
- Identifies own learning needs and/or areas of professional growth.
- Assumes responsibility and accountability for own professional growth and development.
- Attends educational offerings that promote professional development.
- Supports self and peers in professional growth and development utilizing resources and opportunities within and outside of The Christ Hospital.
- Acts as a resource, educator and preceptor for staff and nursing students.
- Completes all educational, requirements to maintain competency related to specific population of patient and/or regulatory agencies (TCHPoint E-Learning education 100% on-time completion and attendance for annual education day).
- Submits required tests and paperwork in a timely manner without management interventions.
- Participate in self and peer review activities to include the positive recognition of peers and staff on a regular basis.
- Prepares for certification related to Clinical Navigator and/ or specific patient population, when eligible.
- Participates in chosen/relevant professional organizations, conferences and research, as appropriate.
- Evaluates nurse-sensitive outcomes and participates in performance improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Please describe any specialized knowledge or skills, which are REQUIRED to perform the position duties. Do not personalize the job description, credentials, or knowledge and skills based on the current associate. List any special education required for this position.
EDUCATION: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. BSN strongly preferred, equivalent combination of Nursing education and RN experience as determined by leadership may be considered. Additional training in Nurse Navigation or Oncology Certification preferred.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 5 years
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
- Demonstrate the knowledge, abilities, and skills to provide age and culturally specific patient care and education.
- Demonstrate the ability to function in a busy work setting with patients with complex needs.
- Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills with peers, physicians, patients, families, caregivers, and team members.
- Use appropriate channels of communication.
- Maintain patient/family/caregiver confidentiality (HIPPA).
- Demonstrate ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks with strong organizational skills.
- Be highly self-motivated, flexible and creative, with strong leadership and presentation skills.
- Demonstrate critical thinking with problem resolution.
- Maintain competence and demonstrate evidence of continuing professional growth.
- Demonstrate the ability to accept and implement change.
- Demonstrates the ability to balance multiple tasks and normal stress associated with the duties and responsibilities of this position are essential requirements in the performance of this job.
LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS:
- Current Registered Nurse license or interim permit in the State of Ohio or Kentucky.
- BLS Certification required.
- Oncology Nurse Certification- preferred for hire but required to obtain within two years of hire.
