Job Summary :

To provide nursing care that is patient and family centered in an environment that exemplifies best practice and customer service; fosters relationship based care; and maintains the integrity of professional nursing standards. Nursing care guidelines are based on the ANA Code of Ethics (1), Indiana Nurse Practice Act (2), Nursing Process, and regulatory agency standards by which the RN provides patient care. The Nurse Navigator (NN) is a licensed registered nurse with specific clinical knowledge, who serves as liaison and advocate for newly diagnosed chronic disease patients and their families through the continuum of their treatment. The NN provides patients and their families with individualized assistance, education and psychosocial support, while coordinating patient care and services, to facilitate informed decision making and access to quality health care. The NN functions in collaboration with the interprofessional care team to facilitate communication between providers and prevent delays in treatment.

Job Description

Essential Responsibilities:

*Note: These responsibilities may be divided as necessary between multiple nurses, who may each be designated a specific disease, but remain flexible in accepting assignments within other specialties. Patient-to-navigator caseloads are established by the hospital, and should be based on navigation model, national guidelines and benchmarks. The NN role is multifaceted, and includes but is not limited to the role of liaison, educator, coordinator, advocate, facilitator, collaborator, supporter, and coach which aid in the development of a fostering and cohesive relationship between patients, their families and the interprofessional care team. Navigation assistance should be introduced and offered to patients at diagnosis, while in some cases it may be initiated pre-diagnosis; patients have the right to decline this assistance, with formal documentation noted of this deferral.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Collaborates with interprofessional committees and administration to perform and evaluate data from the community needs assessment.
•  Identifies areas of improvement that will affect the patient navigation process and program
• Participates in quality improvement based on identified service gaps
• Participate in the tracking of metrics and patient outcomes in collaboration with administration, to documents and evaluate outcomes of the navigation program and reports findings to the appropriate committees
• Applies a basic knowledge of insurance processes and their impact on referrals and patient care decision toward establishing appropriate referrals as needed

Quality

• Assesses patient needs upon initial encounter and periodically through navigation, matching unmet needs with education,  appropriate services and referrals
• Develop and use appropriate assessment tools to promote a consistent holistic plan of care
• Identifies potential and realized barriers to care and facilitates referrals as appropriate to mitigate barriers and increase access to care
• Facilitates and individualizes care within the context of functional status, cultural consideration, health literacy and treatment and supportive care recommendations
• Assists in the identification of candidates for genetic counseling and facilitates appropriate referrals
• Demonstrates knowledge of clinical guidelines and specialty resources through the disease process
• Promotes awareness of clinical trials to patients, families and caregivers
• Uses an ethical framework regarding patient care to assist patient with issues related to treatment goals, advanced directives, palliative and end of life concerns
• Supports a smooth transition of patient from active treatment into survivorship or end of life care
• Provides and reinforces education to patients, families, and caregivers about diagnosis, treatment options, side effect management and post treatment care and survivorship

Patient Satisfaction

• Promotes a patient and family centered care environment for ethical decision making and advocacy for patients with chronic disease
• Promotes autonomous decision making by patients through the provision of personalized education and support
• Builds therapeutic and trusting relationship with patients, families and caregivers through effective communication and listening skills
• Provides psychosocial support to and facilitates appropriate referrals for patients, families and caregivers, especially during periods of high emotional stress and anxiety
• Maintains communication with patient, family and healthcare providers along the continuum to ensure patient satisfaction with the chronic disease care experience

Patient Safety

• Facilitates communication among members of the interprofessional team to prevent fragmented or delayed care that could adversely affect patient outcomes
• Acts as a liaison between the patients, families and caregivers and the providers to optimize patient outcomes
• Advocate for patients to assure access to care and promote optimal care and outcomes
• Ensures documentation of patient encounters and provided services
• Facilitates timely scheduling of appointments, diagnostic tests and procedures to expedite the plan of care and to promote continuity of care

Professional Growth

• Contributes to the navigator program development, implementation, and evaluation within the healthcare system and community
• Contributes to the knowledge base of the healthcare community and in support of the navigator role through activities such as involvement in  professional organizations, presentations, publications and research
• Promotes lifelong learning and evidence-based practice, by self and others, to improve the care of patients with a post or current  diagnosis of chronic disease
• Participates in interprofessional HRH committees appropriate for the population navigated

Customer Service

• In collaboration with other members of the healthcare team, builds partnerships with local agencies and groups that may assist with patient care, support, or educational needs
• Disseminates knowledge of the navigator role to other healthcare team members through peer education, mentoring and preceptor experiences
• Obtain or develop education materials for patients, staff and community members as appropriate
• Adheres to established regulations concerning patient information and privacy
• Demonstrate effective communication and networking with peers, providers, other member of the interprofessional healthcare team and community organizations and resources available to assist patient with chronic disease.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the associate for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Specific Vocational and Educational Preparation:

Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing is required for employment. Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, BSN required, MSN preferred. Computer skills required. Area specific required education may be obtained upon hire and is to be maintained, e.g. ACLS, BLS, PALS, specialty certification, etc.

Professional certification within one year following eligibility

Licensure:

Current licensure by the Indiana State Board of Nurse’s Registration and Nursing Education as an active Registered Nurse.

Work Shift :

1st Shift (United States of America)

Scheduled Weekly Hours :

40