The Nurse Navigator is the patient/family advocate who coordinates and promotes patient access through the cancer care continuum. The Navigator's role, under the direction of the patients physician, is to establish a plan to assist the patient with the treatment plan processes, provide education and support and serve as a "guide" through the complexities of the healthcare system

• assisting with timely treatment options, removing barriers to effective care by coordinating services while promoting optimal quality of life.

EducationBachelor's DegreeExperienceThree years of related experience. Requires working knowledge of specialized practices, equipment, and procedures.

Licenses & Certifications

• Georgia Registered Nurse License
• Healthcare Provider (CPR)
  Qualifications
  
• One year oncology or cancer related experience preferred.
  
• Evidence of specialty training (oncology nurse certification etc.), case management experience preferred.
  
• Certified Mastectomy Fitter Preferred.
  
• Demonstrates maturity, sensitivity and empathy and excellent customer service skills in order to deal with patients receiving a cancer diagnosis.
  
• Computer literacy required.
  
• Experience establishing collaborative working relationships with the medical community.
  
• Demonstrates excellent organizational skills.
  
• Demonstrates ability to analyze problems to reach practical conclusions and resolutions.
  Area of Responsibilities
• A treatment plan for each patient is developed by his/her physician and communicated to the patient/family by the physician.

The Navigator provides assistance and support through the treatment plan processes outlined in the physician's plan of care by identifying and working to address issues/concerns that may affect the physical/emotional status or problems that could affect the delivery of quality patient care. She/he coordinates implementation of resolution(s) as appropriate and provides assistance in accessing appropriate support systems and community resources (i.e., nutritional, financial, pharmaceutical, transportation, support groups) as needed.

• Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must be empathetic and responsive to patient/family members, providing support as the patient/family learns of, and works through the anxieties related to a cancer diagnosis.
• Educate patients and families about their individual cancer diagnosis, treatment protocol, including medications and effective interventions for side effects. Assists with developing and maintaining educational tools for patients/families. Able to identify patient and family individualized learning needs and implements measures to meet these needs.
• Participates in patient care conferences (General and Breast Tumor Boards, etc.), community health fairs and educational events. Must be available to work occasional weeknights and weekends.
• Works with all members of the multidisciplinary care team and the patient to develop a plan of care relevant to diagnosis based on clinical practice guidelines/care pathways and established treatment protocols. Assists with timely provision of diagnostic testing results. Assists with coordination of timely referral, follow-up and resolution of care issues.
• Partners with the professional community agencies and organizations to achieve improved patient outcomes.
• Responsible for maintaining current clinical and technical knowledge base relevant to patient population and established treatment protocols utilized by THS medical staff.

Compliance StatementEmployee performs within the prescribed limits of Tanner Health System's Ethics and Compliance program. Is responsible to detect, observe, and report compliance variances to their immediate supervisor, the Compliance Officer, or the Hotline.

EducationBachelor's DegreeExperienceThree years of related experience. Requires working knowledge of specialized practices, equipment, and procedures.

Licenses & Certifications

• Georgia Registered Nurse License
• Healthcare Provider (CPR)Qualifications
• One year oncology or cancer related experience preferred.
  
• Evidence of specialty training (oncology nurse certification etc.), case management experience preferred.
  
• Certified Mastectomy Fitter Preferred.
  
• Demonstrates maturity, sensitivity and empathy and excellent customer service skills in order to deal with patients receiving a cancer diagnosis.
  
• Computer literacy required.
  
• Experience establishing collaborative working relationships with the medical community.
  
• Demonstrates excellent organizational skills.
  
• Demonstrates ability to analyze problems to reach practical conclusions and resolutions.
  Definitions
• The Nurse Navigator is the patient/family advocate who coordinates and promotes patient access through the cancer care continuum. The Navigator's role, under the direction of the patients physician, is to establish a plan to assist the patient with the treatment plan processes, provide education and support and serve as a "guide" through the complexities of the healthcare system
• assisting with timely treatment options, removing barriers to effective care by coordinating services while promoting optimal quality of life.

Contact With OthersRequires frequent contact with many persons at different levels inside and outside of the organization to carry out organization policies and programs and obtain willing acceptance, consent, or action.

Effect Of ErrorProbable errors not easily detected and may adversely affect external as well as internal relationships and may result in major expenditures for equipment, materials, or procedures detrimental to the patient's welfare or the organization's interest. Work is subject to general review only and requires considerable accuracy and responsibility. Continually works with reports, records, plans, and programs of a major functional area of the organization where integrity is required to safeguard the organization's position. Duties may involve the preparation of data on which the administration bases important decisions and are highly confidential.

Supervisory ResponsibilityExercises no supervision, work direction, or instruction of other employees or studentsMental DemandsA wide variety of complex, changing problems, most of which cannot be anticipated, and there is little existing precedent. Requires careful analysis for the effect of solution on other activities and overall coordination in the organization. Accuracy is essential and not subject to further check. Work involves high degree of resourcefulness, independent judgment, initiative, and long-range planning to achieve major functional objectives. Physical EffortLight physical effort

• Much of work done while sitting but with more than normal standing or walking.

Handles light materials intermittently. Office or laboratory work requiring more than normal visual effort.

Working ConditionsMinor

• Occasionally involved in exposure to dirt, odors, noise, or some work is performed with exposure to temperature/weather extremes/occupational risk and probability of coming into contact with blood borne pathogens, other potentially infectious diseases, or biomedical/bio-hazardous materials.

Working Conditions Aspects For Immunizations

• Performs tasks involving contact with blood, blood-contaminated body fluids, other body fluids, or sharps (needles)Physical AspectsContinually (at least once per day)
• Hearing
• Visual
• SpeakingFrequently (at least 3 times a week)
• Typing
• Manual Dexterity
• picking, pinching With fingers etc.
• Standing
• Walking
• Handling
• seizing, holding, graspingOccasionally (at least once a month)
• Bending
• Reaching
• above shoulder
• Reaching
• below shoulder
• Balancing
• Running
• In response To an emergency
• Lifting up To 25 lbs.
• Lifting 25 To 60 lbs.
• Carrying
• Kneeling
• Squatting
• Hazmat suit usage (PPE)
• Pushing/Pulling
• up To 25 lbs.