Nurse Navigator (Hybrid)

at  RWJBarnabas Health

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Clinical Nurse Navigator is a registered professional nurse with clinical oncology knowledge who works in multiple departments to provide individualized culturally sensitive assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to help overcome healthcare system barriers. Using the nursing process 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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assist oncology patients in accessing care and navigating the health care systems identifying barriers and engaging the patient and family in culturally sensitive potential solutions to financial, practical, and cultural challenges.
• Advocate for timely scheduling of appointments, diagnostic testing, and procedures to expedite the care plan and promote continuity of care from diagnosis to end of active treatment using a culturally sensitive approach.
• Identify appropriate and credible resources responsive to patient needs (practical, social, physical, emotional, spiritual), considering reading level, health literacy, culture, language, and the desired information.
• Encourage patients to communicate their cultural preferences and priorities for treatment to the healthcare team.
• Follow up with patients to support adherence to agreed-upon treatment plans through non-clinical barrier assessment and referrals to supportive resources.
• Participates in coordination of the plan of care with the multidisciplinary team, promoting timely follow-up on treatment and supportive care recommendations
• Reinforce educating patients, clinical teams, families, and caregivers on the significance of adherence to treatment schedules, protocols, follow-up, and cultural ideals.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate empathy, integrity, honesty, and compassion in difficult conversations while maintaining respect and cultural competency.
• Serve as patient and family advocate.

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.