Nurse Navigator

Work Shift: Day (United States of America) Capital Health is the region's leader in providing progressive, quality patient care with significant investments in our exceptional physicians, nurses and staff, as well as advance technology. Capital Health is a five-time Magnet-Recognized health system for nursing excellence and is comprised of 2 hospitals. Capital Health Medical Group is made up of more than 250 physicians and other providers who offer primary and specialty care, as well as hospital-based services, to patients throughout the region. Position Overview: ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: * Initiates communication with patient upon learning they have a suspicious diagnostic result or a positive finding. Assess patients medical, emotional, social, educational, psychosocial and cultural needs. Develops an individual plan of care based on these needs. * Navigates patients diagnosed with through the full continuum of care (surgery, radiology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, clinical trials, genetic counseling, survivorship). * Provides patients and their familes with education about the diagnosis and all treatment options based on their individual needs and learning styles. Develops an educational tool kit on cancer education including information on new technologies, clinical trials, treatment options, individual plans of care, and resources available to patients, staff and community. Reinforces information the patient has received from their healthcare providers. * Serves to enhance the patient's quality of life, sense of autonomy and self-determination for managing his/her own health. Provides patients and families with emotional support in coping with the diagnosis of cancer. Shares information about resources in the community. Connects them with other patients in the community willing to speak with them. * Functions as patient liaison, performs clinical rounds on inpatients, and acts as the hospital contact for all outpatients. Coordinates patient care between ambulatory and inpatient settings, Helps arrange appointments for consultations and provides symptom management services. Follows up with patients recovering from surgery. Assists in discharge planning with patients, family and healthcare professionals. * Promotes communications between the patient and health care providers. Collaborates with physicians to ensure efficient quality care for all patients. * Develops a survivorship plan with the patient and his healthcare team to include information about surgical and medical treatments and post treatment surveilance. Sends this plan to all members of the oncology healthcare team including the patient's primary care provider. * Coordinates multidisciplinary case conferences. Based on physician availability, sets time and frequency. Communicates with surgeons, medical oncologist, radiation oncologists, pathologists and radiologists on cases that will be presented. Follows up on all issues discussed at the conference. * Maintains a database to track patient demographics and treatments, navigation activities and quality and performance metrics. These metrics may include and are not limited to tracking phone calls received, patient flow and turnaround time from diagnosis to treatment. * Acts as an educational resource to staff on all issues related to oncology care. Keeps up-to-date on new technologies, tests, procedures, protocols as related to best practices and other aspects of oncology care. * Promotes oncology programs to other clinicians and the community through educational awareness and community screening events. Participates in internal and external projects, committees, and other activities as required. Plans and speaks at several yearly community education events on cancer related topics. Networks with community providers that offer to provide support to cancer patients (i.e. American Cancer Society, Trenton Health Team). * Assists in the survey readiness process for cancer-related accreditation programs upon request. * Maintains constant readiness for system-wide DNV-GL//DHSS/CMS surveys and inspections as measured by self-assessment against standards. Ensures that areas of responsibility adhere to departmental regulatory standards and maintains departmental accreditations in conjunction with supervisors, managers and administrators. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS * Education: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. * Experience: Two years previous patient care experience as a nurse. Operational supervision experience in a hospital inpatient and outpatient setting preferred. Experience with policy development and implementing evidence-based practice preferred. * Other Credentials: AHA BLS - Healthcare Provider, Registered Nurse - NJ * Knowledge and Skills: Extensive familiarity with use of Internet as a clinical and administrative resource. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. * Special Training: Intermediate computer skills. Experience with Microsoft Office. Offers are contingent upon successful completion of our onboarding process and pre-employment physical. Capital Health will require all applicants (including contractors, travelers and consultants) to have an annual flu vaccine prior to start date, with the exception of individuals with medical and religious exemptions. "Company will never ask candidates for social security numbers or date of birth during application phase. If you are asked for this information online, you may be a target for identity theft."