A professional registered nurse with oncology-specific clinical knowledge who provides personalized care to help patients with cancer overcome healthcare system barriers. Using the nursing process, an oncology 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 care continuum in addition to:

• Enhance the quality of professional navigation services provided to people impacted by cancer.
• Advocate with and on behalf of people at risk for cancer, cancer patients, survivors, families, and caregivers to protect and promote needs and interests of people impacted by cancer.
• Encourage navigator participation in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of best practices and quality improvement in oncology care.

The Nurse Navigator is a patient educator, care coordinator, system navigator and patient advocate with the mission to improve the care experience for cancer patients at the Manderson Cancer Center.  The Navigator works collaboratively with the patient and their support systems, and care team to support the patient from prevention and early detection through diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.

1. Identify the patient’s unmet needs by determining potential barriers to provide care coordination.
2. Serve as a patient advocate providing individualized assistance to oncology patients, families and caregivers.
3. Provide education and resources to aid in timely access to appropriate level of care, increased utilization of preventive services and promotion of patient self-management with the goal of informed and shared decision-making.
4. Demonstrates effective communication with patients, families, physicians, staff and community agencies.
5. Provide education about diagnosis and treatment side effects and their management to the patient and family:
6. Provides coordination and education for cancer patients:
   1. Assesses patient’s educational, physio/psychosocial needs, barriers to care and support systems.
   2. Facilitates information gathering and analysis in order for patients to make informed decisions.
   3. Collaborates with staff to facilitate timely access and continuity of care.
   4. Facilitates access to healthcare and community resources for patients as
   5. Provides written and verbal cancer related information to the patient related to their diagnosis, pathology, treatment plan, and rehabilitation.
   6. Individualizes the care of each patient throughout the continuum.
7. Collaborate with other healthcare providers and services providers to refer patients.
8. Collaborates with tumor registry for information support.
9. Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and autonomy in developing the Patient Navigator position.
10. Develops and sustains database.
11. Develops measures and reports outcomes of the position.
12. Track metrics to measure the effectiveness of treatments and identify areas of improvement.
13. Monitor outcomes and analyze data regularly to ensure all patients receive the best possible care.
14. Track patient’s progress, review scans for changes in disease status, and make sure potential complications are addressed.
15. Serves as a liaison for hospital, physician, and community cancer groups.
16. Performs initial and annual competency per job class.
17. Play role in improving the patients’ experience.
18. Communicate care coordination with other disciplines such as social worker, dietician, etc.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.

• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.

• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

1. BSN Preferred
2. Valid RN nursing license in Alabama
3. 4 years of clinical nursing experience required.
4. Certification in Oncology Nursing preferred or obtained within two years of employment.
5. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
6. Strong organizational skills with attention to details required.
7. Must have excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills.
8. Critical thinking skills
9. Must be able to work autonomously and make decisions.
10. Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports.
11. American Heart Association - BLS

1. Self-directed and able to organize and manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously.
2. Ability to promote programs and services to community.
3. Extensive understanding of patient care.

WORKING CONDITIONS

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Physical presence onsite is essential.
• Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Able to push stretcher/wheelchair with average adult patient.
• Able to do frequent stooping and on occasion crouching, crawling or kneeling.
• Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction
• Ability to run in emergency situations
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner
• Must have the ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.

Environmental

• Includes exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions
• Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment

Psychological

• Includes demonstrating leadership skills, delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results