Oncology Nurse Navigator - Memorial Health Care Center

JOB SUMMARY

Works under the supervision and/or direction of the Director of Cancer Care Services. Nurse navigator will work closely with Diagnostic Imaging, Primary and Family Care physicians, Cancer Care Staff, and patients from the abnormal finding and biopsy through to a diagnosis, cancer treatment, and survivorship.  The Nurse navigator will provide patients with education, support and coordination to assist patients in securing appointments and overall care.  Provide educational resources and support services.  Promote communication between the patient and health care providers.  Enhance the quality of life, sense of autonomy, and self-determination for managing own health.  In addition to reinforcing the physician-patient relationship. Strives for superior performance by consistently providing a product or service to leadership and staff that is recognized as ultimately contributing to the patient and family experience.  Recognizes and demonstrates understanding of patient and family centered care. 

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Serves as main point of contact for patients and families from initial biopsy until completion of treatment.
2. Perform Infusion Room follow up phone calls
3. Work closely with Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Surgeons and Medical Assistants to help coordinate any and all required imaging and lab tests.
4. Attend and help coordinate all Tumor Conferences.
5. Become a member of the Cancer Committee.
6. Help patient coordinate appointments with all necessary physicians specified by the patient or their physician.
7. Ensures referrals to supportive care and support services are made in a timely way; facilitates scheduling and monitors patients to ensure follow through.
8. Assures and schedules patient appointments (e.g., physician office visits, tests, procedures).
9. Tracks and documents individual patient’s progress along care continuum; and identifies potential bottlenecks and perform appropriate interventions.
10. Serves as main point of contact for referring physicians and their staff.
11. Works with referring physicians to understand their preferences for communication about patients’ test results, treatment progress, and manage those communications.
12. Prepares monthly report of performance on timeliness of care metrics (e.g., time from diagnosis to surgery and time from surgery to initial treatment).
13. Identifies bottlenecks in the patient pathway and gaps in care; proposes process improvement measures to address them.
14. Communicates all new patients to Research, Nurses, and Social Work.
15. Works with Nurse Practitioner with continuity of care through Survivorship appointments
16. Assess needs, tracks compliance and side effects of patients on Oral Oncolytics and shares findings with providers.
17. Demonstrates job related aspects of patient safety to assure a safe environment, safe and effective use of equipment and technology, and decreased risk of potential adverse patient occurrences.
18. Demonstrates knowledge of and supports hospital mission, vision, value statements, standards of care, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality statements, corporate compliance plan, standards of behavior, and the code of ethical behavior.
19. Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served on his/her assigned unit.  Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's and division's policies and procedures. 
20. Performs all other job-related duties as assigned.          

DEPARTMENTAL AND ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION 

1. Graduate from accredited school of nursing. 
2. RN license from Michigan. 
3. BSN required. 
4. OCN preferred, required within 1 year of hire date.

EXPERIENCE 

1. Previous experience in Patient Navigation. 
2. Minimum of 2 years Oncology experience

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL ABILITIES/MOTOR SKILLS

These physical requirements are not exhaustive and additional job related physical requirements may be added on an as needed basis.  Corrective devices may be used to meet physical requirements.

1. Sedentary Work:  Frequently required to stand, kneel and crouch.  On a daily basis may be required to move about, sit, climb stairs and bend.  Is frequently required to lift and carry up to 20 lbs.  May be required to push/pull/carry items between 20-100 lbs.
2. Vision:  Requires the ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye.  Near acuity:  Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.  Midrange Acuity:  Clarity of vision at distances of more than 20 inches and less than 20 feet.
3. Motor Coordination:  While performing the duties of the job, it is required to regularly perform functions that include using hand and finger movement, handle or feel objects, be able to use tools or equipment that requires reaching with hands and arms.  Must be able to travel independently throughout the hospital; access patients/families including areas confined by space and/or equipment.
4. Speaking/Hearing:  Ability to give and receive information through speaking and listening.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL ABILITIES

1. Proficiency using modern office, computer and telephone equipmentas used by Memorial Healthcare.

ESSENTIAL MENTAL ABILITIES

1. Ability to adapt and maintain focus in fast paced, quickly changing or stressful situations.
2. Ability to read and interpret a variety of documents including, but not limited to policies, operating instructions, white papers, regulations, rules and laws.

ESSENTIAL SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

1. Able to see for the purpose of reading information received in formats including but not limited to paper, computer, reports, bulletins, updates, manuals.
2. Able to hear for work-related purposes.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

1. Ability to interact with co-workers, hospital staff, administration, patients, physicians, the public and all internal and external customers in a professional and effective, courteous and tactful manner, at all times, physically, verbally and in all written and electronic communication.
2. Required to remain calm when adversity is encountered.
3. Open, honest, and tactful communication skills.
4. Ability to work as a team member in all activities.
5. Positive, cooperative and motivated attitude.