Clinical Navigator

The Clinical Navigator for the Breast Cancer Patient Navigation Program is a registered nurse (RN) who plays a pivotal role in guiding breast cancer patients through the continuum of care. This position focuses on providing clinical expertise, patient education, and coordination of care to ensure that patients receive timely, comprehensive, and compassionate care. The Clinical Navigator serves as an essential resource for patients, families, and the multidisciplinary healthcare team, helping to address the complex medical and emotional needs associated with a breast cancer diagnosis.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Patient Navigation and Support:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for breast cancer patients, providing guidance and support from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.

• Assist patients in understanding their diagnosis, staging, treatment options, and potential side effects, providing clear explanations of complex medical information.

• Coordinate with oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and other members of the healthcare team to develop individualized care plans that align with patients’ goals and preferences.

• Monitor patients’ progress throughout their treatment, ensuring timely follow-up on diagnostic tests, procedures, and appointments.

• Identify and address barriers to care, including transportation, financial concerns, and access to services, by connecting patients with appropriate resources.

Clinical Education and Counseling:

• Provide evidence-based education to patients and their families about breast cancer, treatment modalities, and management of side effects.

• Offer emotional support and counseling to patients and their families, helping them cope with the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.

End-of-Life and Survivorship Care:

• Provide end-of-life care education and support to patients and families, including advanced care planning, palliative care options, and hospice referrals.

• When applicable, assist patients and families in understanding and preparing for the transition to end-of-life care, offering compassionate guidance and support.

• Support cancer survivors in their transition from active treatment to survivorship, providing education on follow-up care, long-term side effects, and lifestyle changes.

Care Coordination and Collaboration:

• Collaborate closely with the multidisciplinary team, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals, to ensure coordinated and holistic care.

• Coordinate referrals to specialists, and supportive care services, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive care.

• Assist patients with insurance navigation, financial assistance, and access to community resources.

Data Management and Quality Improvement:

• Document all patient interactions, care plans, and outcomes in the electronic medical record (EMR), maintaining accurate and up to date records.
• Participate in program evaluation and continuous quality improvement efforts, identifying opportunities to enhance patient care and streamline navigation processes.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in breast cancer care and patient navigation, participating in ongoing education and professional development.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of IL required.

• At minimum 2 years of clinical nurse experience, experience in oncology or a related field preferred.

• Experience in breast cancer care, patient navigation, or case management is highly desirable.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to speak, read and write English. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) a plus

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

Ability to understand and demonstrate Aunt Martha's 4-step Performance Improvement process, utilizing the methodology Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA).

JOB KNOWLEDGE

Ability to use technical skills and apply knowledge necessary for this position.

QUALITY

Ability to demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness while performing the duties of this position.

SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROL

Be knowledgeable about and follow Aunt Martha's safety policies and procedures.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Current driver’s license

Current auto insurance

Ability to work late evening hours, weekend hours, and scheduled holidays, as needed

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with electronic medical records (EMR) systems.

Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to handle the emotional demands of working with breast cancer patients.

Compassionate, patient-centered approach with a commitment to supporting individuals through difficult times, with the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with patients and their families.

Strong clinical assessment and critical thinking skills, with the ability to manage complex patient cases.

Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position may involve both office work and community outreach, with occasional travel to healthcare and community sites.

While in the clinic, there may be some exposure to communicable disease, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, radiation and other conditions common to a clinical environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ORGANIZATION-WIDE EXPECTATIONS:

• All employees are expected to adhere to Aunt Martha’s mission, vision and guiding principles.
• All employees are expected to adhere to all Agency and Division/Department policies and procedures.
• All employees are expected to maintain all required competencies, registrations; certifications, licenses and personnel file documentation as required by the agency, funders and/or accrediting bodies.
• All employees are expected to embrace diversity, treat our patients and co-workers with dignity, respect, and hold others to these standards.
• All employees are expected to uphold the confidentiality requirements of all patient records consistent with HIPPA, State, and Federal laws and regulations