Registered Nurse Nurse Navigator - TMC Oncology

In collaboration with physicians and administrators, provide coordination for a specific patient population’s journey through a treatment plan established by a multidisciplinary team of physicians and surgeons and other caregivers.  Coordinates patient’s care plan, facilitates patient appointments, including those made with labs, diagnostic areas, and specialty physicians; responsible for communication and overall program interaction with other disciplines. Provides necessary resource information to the patient and family along the continuum of care. 

Serves as a liaison between physicians and hospital staff to enhance relationships. Collaborates with administration, management, and staff across the organization to improve patient care. Works with Administration and multidisciplinary team to develop and grow the program through a variety of education, resource, and quality measures.

Tucson Medical Center (TMC) is Tucson’s only non-profit community owned hospital. Employees choose to work at TMC because of our of integrity, community, dedication, and compassion which we show through the exceptional care we provide to our patients and our community. Our passion for caring for the Tucson community has expanded over the last to include community partnerships, new medical specialties, and medical clinics to further provide the care our community deserves.

Why Join Tucson Medical Center?

We don’t only care for our patients, we care for our TMC family too. As a member of our family you can expect to enjoy a wide variety of benefits. In addition to all the benefits you would expect from a leading medical facility (medical, dental, vision, 401K with match) we also provide:

• Family Style Atmosphere with a Supportive Team 
• Competitive Pay
• Career Growth Opportunities
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health and Wellness Coaching
• Extensive Onsite Gym for $12.00 a Month

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF ONCOLOGY NAVIGATOR:

PATIENT CARE

• Assist patients in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and the resources available, including educating eligible patients about appropriate options, technologies and resources. Facilitate appointments for consults and support services within established service standards, including social workers, dietitians, physician, rehabilitation, etc.
• Develop concise patient summaries for use by the care team, and document recommendations made utilizing standardized care protocols in accordance with nationally recognized care guidelines.
• Consults and collaborates with members of the health care team in the assessment and management of the patient’s journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery; functions as a liaison between physicians, nursing, technologists and area support staff.

CLINICAL EDUCATION

• Coordinate multidisciplinary planning conferences, tumor boards, grand rounds, etc.
• Formulates and develops plans, procedures and programs to meet specific training needs and problems for patients, physicians and hospital care team.
• Assists in research and development directly related to oncology services.
• Designs a primary care physician education strategy that adheres to screening guidelines and best practices for cancer work-ups.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

• Assists in the development, implementation, and revision of nursing protocols and standards of care related to the program.
• Researches and provides advice on patient care processes, nursing processes, and larger-scale quality improvement projects.
• Identifies operational opportunities to improve of services and physician satisfaction; communicates those opportunities for improvement to the appropriate personnel.
• Participates in professional organizations and actively networks to share information and ideas.
• Assists in setting standards of practice patterns among physicians and surgeons treating cancer patients.

QUALITY

• Maintains compliance with appropriate regulatory, federal, and state mandated requirements.
• Participates in and coordinate unit Quality Improvement Program on a regular and continuing basis.
• Works with Cancer Registry staff and others to collect data; documents, tracks and monitors medical outcomes. Utilizes data to continuously improve treatment of cancer patients and to support strategic planning processes.

PHYSICIAN RELATIONS

• Acts as liaison and educational resource between physicians, administration, and hospital staff to enhance oncology program and patient care.
• Works with Professional Staff, THMEP and physician organizations to coordinate and support physician activities/committees as requested. Maintains records of training activities for CME related programs.

Performs related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF PERINATAL NURSE NAVIGATOR:

Oversight of Women and Children Service Line Community Classes

• Evaluates the educational needs of the community and works with subject matter experts to customize the educational program to fit community needs.
• Monitors support and enrollment activities of the courses.
• Develops enrollment reports and class success rates.
• Develops new classes and events.
• Works with the director on budgets for upcoming classes and events.
• Evaluates instructor effectiveness and provides feedback, counseling, guidance, problem solving, and professional development.
• Helps to resolve student and instructor complaints and problems.
• Monitors educational programs to ensure they meet quality control standards by conducting needs assessments, designing learning environments, reviewing class evaluations and providing instructor training and evaluation.
• Develops positive working relationships with all departments; and interacts with staff regarding planning, coordination and requesting services.
• In collaboration with the Director, provides input to the departmental marketing plan. Promotes classes and programs.
• Assists with the development of goals and its mission by providing information on the relevance of educational programs offered, enrollment statistics and profitability.
• Coordinates with outlying Community outreach
   
   

Obtain early referrals from the physician’s office

• Serve as an early resource
  • Initiate contact with patient and introduce navigation program and role at time of diagnosis (or at entry into the care system, if later).
  • Email information
  • Calls
  • Classes
    • Be aware of course, content, educators, reschedules
    • Coordinate enrollment in classes
• Coordination of consults
  • NICU consult
  • Anesthesia Consult
  • Etc.
• Ongoing communication with the family throughout the pregnancy
  • Be available to patients and families throughout their care as an open, knowledgeable and empathetic contact for all care needs.
  • Respond to patient challenges until resolution is achieved.
• Assist in Coordination of appropriate teaching, outreach, and education to patients and families. The aim of this work being to ensure the patient is empowered to manage his or her own health.
  • Contact providers to assist patients in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and the resources available, including educating eligible patients about appropriate clinical research studies and technologies.
  • Coordinate education on subjects that fall beyond the scope of individual modalities e.g. access to supportive care, financial support, return to work.
  • Coordinate education through formalized routine groups or classes to meet identified unmet needs in the community

Navigate patients at 28 weeks through pre-registration

Serve as resource (outpatient)

• • Email information
  • Calls
• Coach and help patients to remove barriers with issues of insurance, transportation, child care, financial resources, language so they may focus on getting the care they need.
•  Initiate referrals to hospital and community resources to connect patients with resources and support systems.
• Notify Perinatal Safety Coordinator of any upcoming high risk admissions

Assist patient with any special requests (outpatient)

• Assess the medical, social, and psychosocial and other care needs of the patient and family and communicate to appropriate provider or hospital staff member
  •  Identify health disparities and remove barriers to care e.g. referral pathway barriers
• Offer birth plan document for patient completion
• Develop resources to help patients understand delivery processes
• Ensures moms-to-be are well informed and understand prenatal care plan
• Helps women and families remove barriers to prenatal care

Act as a Patient Experience Liaison (outpatient)

• Streamline appointments and paperwork by helping patients with scheduling classes and preparation.
  • Establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure service continuity during both planned and unplanned absence and undertake succession planning.

Follow up phone calls

• Conduct follow-up conversations as needed with patients and communicate concerns, changes, or social needs in patient health to appropriate nurse leader, MD or other appropriate care providers.

Record keeping

• Calls

•  Communicate process improvement to Director
  • Ensure reporting is in place to demonstrate program outcomes and support performance improvement activities.
  • Make appropriate recommendations for changes to the current program and assist in delivering program improvement.
  • Establish and maintain positive working relationships with key internal and external customers (including e.g. physicians, nurses, radiology staff, social services staff, business office staff, etc.).
  • Educate each constituent on the role and benefits of a navigation program and high quality care.
  • Recognize scope and limitations of role and regularly access supervision as a support to the role.
  • Provide referring providers with timely data on completion of consults.

Additional tasks

• Stay current on the latest perinatal developments and participate in meetings.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF NEUROSURGICAL NURSE NAVIGATOR:

• Coordinate communication between neurosurgical care team, pain care providers, other health care team members, the patient and their family members.
• Provides patient/family centered care, acting as a partner and adviser, assists and supports patients and families to optimally manage their treatment throughout the healthcare continuum.
• Applies critical reasoning and astute clinical judgment in order to expedite appropriate care and treatment.  Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team, the patient, and family in planning patient care to facilitate outcomes as designated by best practice clinical pathways.
• Facilitates continuity of care using the nursing process, multidisciplinary collaboration, and coordination of appropriate services.  Interacts with patients during face-to-face encounters or through a variety of telecommunication strategies. 
• Provides the patient with education and resource support, including scheduling of follow up appointments, throughout the continuum of care.
• Focus on patient satisfaction, safety and quality by applying appropriate nursing interventions, such as identifying and clarifying patient needs, conducting health education, promoting patient advocacy, coordinating nursing and other health services, assisting the patient to navigate the health care system, and evaluate patient outcomes.
• Appropriately, document patient care encounters and communication with healthcare team members as it relates to patient care, needs, and outcomes. Communicate with referring providers offices as required by the patient and/or provider.
• Ensure patients complete ancillary testing or therapy, as prescribed between provider visits to help ensure a productive and efficient follow up encounter.
• Actively participate in the development and enhancement of care processes with the aim to improve the clinical experience for both the patient and provider.
• Participate in professional development by maintaining required competencies, identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate assistance or educational offerings.  Demonstrates the ability to function in a professional setting through active participation in a professional practice model.  Pursues lifelong learning that updates and expands their clinical, organizational, and professional roles and responsibilities.
• Serves as a resource to marketing department and collaborates with Business Liaison team to educate referring providers and facilities on services
• Participates in regular multidisciplinary team meetings and continuous quality improvement activities.  Actively participates in analysis of pertinent data to identify variances and opportunities for improvement processes specifically related to the neurosurgical patient treatment process.

Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:  Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a qualified, nationally accredited nursing program required. Master’s degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE: A minimum of three (3) years of related experience, preferably in an acute care setting with experience as a health/patient educator or patient advocate, preferred area of clinical experience in the program area for the position.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION:  Current RN licensure permitting work in the State of Arizona and current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate.