Oncology Nurse Navigator

Description

The Nurse Navigator functions on the multidisciplinary team as an advocate, interpreter, educator, and counselor for oncology patients. She/he is responsible for ensuring all adult patients with an oncology diagnosis receive quality and comprehensive services. He/she will coordinate patient care throughout the continuum in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. She/he will serve as a clinical resource with expertise in hematology/oncology care management. He/she will serve as a liaison throughout the facility and in the community regarding services provided for this unique patient population. He/she will provide expert nursing care, which includes: direct clinical practice, consultation, education and research.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

· Assess patients’ needs and make appropriate referrals

· Identify barriers to care using the NCCN Distress Thermometer tool

· Maintain/use a comprehensive database of local, regional, and national resources

· Assess patients’ understanding of the disease process and treatment options required for informed decisions

· Systemically and continually performs the functions of assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the care according to  the nursing process and Oncology Nursing Society Standards of Practice.

· Provide comprehensive documentation of patient encounters, services, and referrals

· Initiates and documents patient teaching including family and significant others based on assessment of needs.

· Assist with the post-treatment transition (e.g., survivorship care plan development, follow-up plans)

· Educate and reinforce the issue of adherence to the treatment plan

· Develop oncology-related education materials

· Promote clinical trial awareness

· Participate in tracking metrics and outcomes

· Contribute to the knowledge base of the healthcare community through involvement in professional organizations, presentations, publications and research

Requirements

 Experience and Education

• ADN, BSN, MSN with 3-5 years Oncology experience. BSN, MSN preferred 
• Current licensure in the State of Georgia and SC as appropriate (multistate)
• Strong oncology knowledge with certifications like OCN, AOCNS, APCNP, CBCN or BMTCN. Oncology Nursing Certification      (OCN) within 3 years of employment. 

Knowledge Areas/Competencies

• Distress Screening Tool PHQ 2 and 9
• NCCN Distress Thermometer
• Criteria for molecular testing and genetic counseling
• Advance directives, palliative care, and end-of-life concerns
• Patient privacy regulations
• Current trends and evidence through lifelong learning with continuing education and evidence-based practice
• Evidence-based practice process including use of clinical guidelines and specialty resources