The Oncology Nurse Navigator (ONN) is responsible for managing the care of identified patients with cancer, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, to ensure access to high quality care throughout the continuum. The ONN serves as a single point of contact for cancer patients, caregivers, and referring physicians, and provides resources and assistance with accessing clinical and supportive care services offered by Northside Hospital and community partners. An ONN is a nurse with advanced training and skill who has experience working with cancer patients. The position requires a willingness to work flexible hours, which may include some evenings and the occasional weekend.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serves as a primary point of contact for cancer patients and caregivers. Assists cancer patients across the continuum of care in accessing the hospital’s cancer care delivery system.
- Serves as an essential link between cancer patients, caregivers, and the multidisciplinary team. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with key customers (physicians, nurses, diagnostic staff, case management, inpatient and outpatient staff, etc.).
- Assists in the development of the cancer patient’s plan of care with the multidisciplinary care team. Facilitates effective and efficient management of care across the continuum according to nationally accepted clinical practice guidelines (e.g. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)).
- Effectively communicates with patients, caregivers and members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Assesses patient’s health literacy and potential barriers to learning. Provides patient and caregiver education about disease process, treatments, and potential side effects utilizing evidence-based materials tailored to the patient’s individualized needs. Promotes and provides education to staff members as requested.
- Assesses patient’s needs, identifying and documenting patient and family barriers to care. Provides access and information on resources available within the hospital system and the community.
- Participates in assigned multidisciplinary disease site teams by attending meetings and work groups as required. Attends assigned multidisciplinary cancer conferences and works with the Multidisciplinary Care Coordinator to identify cases for review.
- Documents patient, caregiver, and multidisciplinary team interactions in the oncology navigation documentation system and adheres to documentation processes and guidelines.
- Educates patients and caregivers about survivorship by setting expectations for post-treatment transition to the NHCI oncology survivorship program.
- Actively participates as a member of the oncology navigation team by attending staff meetings and trainings as directed by Oncology Patient Navigation leadership.
- Assists in the implementation of quality improvement processes for the management of cancer care across the continuum.
- Maintains advanced knowledge of the assigned cancer disease site, oncology nursing and oncology navigation by attending continuing education programs and obtaining nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) hours as outlined in the annual competencies.
- Meets ONN annual competencies, job performance standards and Northside service standards.
