Life With Cancer - Oncology Nurse Navigator for Breast Cancer

Life with Cancer: Oncology Nurse Navigator for Breast Cancer

• Inova’s mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve.
  • Inova is the only health system in the country where all 5 hospitals received five-star rankings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; they are the only hospitals in the Washington, DC region to have earned the highest rating from the federal agency. Inova is home to prominent clinicians and scientists, who drive innovation to improve patient care, prevent disease and promote wellness.

The Life with Cancer Oncology Nurse Navigator at Inova Schar Cancer - Fairfax location provides safe therapeutic care in a holistic and systematic way across the health system and continuum of care and in the community for past, current, and potential cancer patients.  Guides patient and family through the health system from diagnosis, testing, treatment and follow-up care to assist patients with navigating the continuum of care. Acts as a liaison, advocate and point of contact to patient/family members by helping them access the best healthcare outcomes from doctors, hospitals and others who provide their required services. May assist patients and families with resolving financial, psychosocial, functional, and administrative issues by advising of options and referring to appropriate resources. Acts as advisor/educator by providing emotional support, clinical education, resources and expert guidance to patients and families to promote their ability to understand and meaningfully participate in the healthcare process and personal decision-making. Facilitates and oversees both the care delivery for patients and relevant program development under the direction of the department manager and in collaboration with the Life with Cancer Director and oncology colleagues.

Duties and Responsibilities

Guides patient and family through the health system from diagnosis, testing, treatment and follow-up care to assist patients with navigating the continuum of care.

• Coordinates a patient's plan of care which may include answering patient questions regarding disease process and plan of care, appointment scheduling when appropriate, assisting with referral process, and providing community resources. Provides educational information and advocacy to patient throughout care process including survivorship.
• Functions as a contact to internal and external community/family services for patients in need of services such as screening, diagnostic treatment, clinical research participation, support services, and follow-up/aftercare plan. Refers cases to the appropriate resources for assistance.
• Creates a seamless flow through the health system to facilitate the patient's care.
• Participates in coordination of the plan of care with the multidisciplinary team, promoting timely follow-up on treatment and supportive care recommendations (e.g. cancer conferences/tumor boards).
• Facilitates individualized care within the context of functional status, cultural considerations, health literacy, psychosocial, reproductive/fertility and spiritual needs for patients, families and caregivers.

Eliminates barriers to patient's access to health care services and facilitates continuity of care/care coordination.

• Ensure communication and coordination of care for patients happens in a culturally sensitive and timely manner with attention to level of health literacy so they receive access to resources throughout the continuum and follow through with recommendations from the health care team.
• Document, track and monitor patient data.
• Contribute to quality improvement efforts.
• Manages caseload assignment and complex cases.

Acts as a liaison, advocate and point of contact to patient/family members by helping them access the best healthcare outcomes from doctors, hospitals and others who provide their required services.

• Proactively anticipates patient's needs and advocates for patient rights and appropriate utilization of services.
• Advocates for patients to promote patient-centered care that includes shared decision making and patients goals of care with optimal outcomes.
• Offers individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to help overcome health system barriers.
• Assists patients and families with resolving financial, psychosocial, functional, and administrative issues by advising of options and referring to appropriate resources.
• Develops and maintains effective liaison role between patient and attending, consulting other medical team members.

Acts as advisor/educator by providing emotional support, counseling, clinical education, resources and expert guidance to patients and famili