Nurse Navigator -Gynecologic Oncology at Billings Clinic in Malta, Montana

Job Description:

The incumbent in this position acts as an advocate for patients serving as the primary point of contact and is responsible for coordinating the care and services of the identified patient populations for an extended period of time across the continuum of care for both inpatient and outpatient services; promoting effective resource utilization; assuming a leadership role with the multidisciplinary team to achieve an optimal clinical outcome.


This role requires the candidate to assist in a variety of clinical and operational aspects of workflow within the Gynecologic Oncology department. Knowledge and competency in sterile procedures necessary. Operational aspects include but are not limited to schedule coordination, follow-up communication with patients, outside care facilities, and referring providers, documentation, and record maintenance for necessary records for accreditation and continued care needs.


Supply an exceptional patient and family entry and journey through the healthcare system. Help providers by coordinating patient visits, provision of proper records as applicable, and aid in coordinating proper supplementary service visits as applicable. Navigation will ideally begin before the patient comes for their first visit, continue during the first phases of consultation and care plan generation, and often during a course of therapy. Navigation will often be a 'go to' when patients or family have question, concerns, or confusion. They will supply skills and knowledge to effectively arrange patient centered cancer care through leadership of the interdepartmental team.


The oncology nurse navigator will provide effective communication to patient and families regarding disease process, treatment plan review, next steps in care. Gyn Oncology Nurse Navigator will translate medical terminology into information that patients can use to improve their understanding of their cancer journey. Ancillary services offered in the cancer center -Social work, palliative care team, financial counseling, dietician, support groups will be discussed and encouraged with the patient and family. Coordination of care provides timely access to cancer care by addressing patient barriers and providing interventions.


Essential Job Functions


• Supports and models behaviors consistent with the mission and philosophy of Billings Clinic and department/service.
• Facilitates the coordination of patient care services to assure excellence in patient care and patient flow; includes coordinating care, treatment and communication among the medical team.
• Follows patient through the care continuum/experience, eliminating operational (such as scheduling, test results, etc.) barriers to services.
• Works closely with other healthcare disciplines to ensure timely appointments, results reporting, financial need referrals, communication, patient care and follow-up.
• Coordination of care: The oncology nurse navigator will receive referral for cancer patients from outside providers, departments in the Billings Clinic and faxed referrals.
• The nurse navigator will then start the process of obtaining records if applicable. This includes but not limited to provider notes, labs, pathology report, imaging report and imaging.
• After patient records are obtained in a prompt matter; the nurse will start the process of scheduling the patient with proper provider and multidisciplinary team in the clinic. The nurse will notify cancer research team of patient.
• The nurse navigator will contact the patient/caregiver within one business day of scheduling patient. The navigator will supply education on the rationale of the multidisciplinary team/appointments and need for further imaging or testing. Location, date, and time will be provided to the patient. Appointment notification will be mailed to home address, along with navigator business card. The navigator will explain the role and supply contact information to the patient/caregivers.
• The nurse navigators will attend patient first consult in medical and radiation oncology. Navigation may be present in multidisciplinary appointments inside the Billings Clinic.
• Nurse navigation schedule further appointments, imaging, lab draw, etc. as directed by providers. These appointments will be communicated to the patient/caregiver's day of and or within one business day.
• Nurse navigation will notify/schedule patient with supplementary appointments, such as symptom management team, oncology social workers, physical therapists, dietician, breast boutique, financial counselors, oral oncology pharmacist, site specific and/or general tumor board.
• When patient presents for the first consults the nurse navigator will provide patient/family with Billings Clinic Cancer Center resources, contact numbers for staff, education resources on cancer, staging, treatment from reputable sources. (NCCN, ACOS, ACS)
• The nurse navigator will supply education to the patient. Navigation will assess patient education needs by assessing barriers to care (literacy, language, cultural influences, and comorbidities). Resources will be offered such as web, printed materials, and verbal education.
• The nurse navigator will supply and reinforce education to the patient, families, and caregivers about diagnosis, treatment, post treatment care and survivorship. (Treatment summary when applicable.)
• The nurse navigator will schedule patient for their first treatment, they will provide calendars to the patient and review times, dates, and providers with them to expedite the plan of care and continuity of care.
• The nurse navigator will schedule patients for follow up in the cancer center when actively navigating patient.
• The nurse navigator will provide anticipatory guidance and manage expectations to aid patient/caregivers/families in coping with cancer diagnosis, potential or expected outcomes.
• The nurse navigator will support a smooth transition of patients from active/initial treatment into survivorship, chronic cancer management or end of life care.
• Facilitates the development, implementation, and adherence to clinical and evidenced based guidelines, as appropriate, to ensure optimal clinical outcomes.
• Ensures follow-up on identified patient clinical and non-clinical care, facilitating communication and compliance to care plans (i.e., medication reconciliation, follow-up on care concerns/critical values/core measures, patient care conferences, etc.) Ensures follow up has occurred regarding patient clinical and non-clinical care to include adherence to plans of care, resource utilization, and general progress utilizing care conferences, as necessary.
• Works in collaboration with the medical team to develop and implement clinical guidelines. Facilitates the adherence of the guidelines through regular evaluation and auditing of clinical practice.
• Works with care team to assure direct care needs are met, assisting as needed or assigned.
• Ensures follow-up in the inpatient and/or outpatient setting on identified patient clinical and non-clinical care, facilitating communication and compliance to care plans (i.e., medication reconciliation, follow-up on care concerns/critical values/core measures, patient care conferences, etc).
• Demonstrates expertise in educational and resourcing services.
• Participates in educational activities related to patient/community, clinical operation and process issues on an ongoing basis.
• Collaborates with other health care providers in developing, implementing and evaluating educational materials for patients and their families.
• Facilitates intra-departmental relationships in an effort to provide necessary resources to and for the patient.
• Interfaces with other members/disciplines within the healthcare teams for appropriate referrals/services.
• Aware of and assists with financial needs of the patients.
• Identify and access appropriate social services, including resources to assist caregivers to support treatment.
• Develop options for complementary and integrative care.
• Contributes to an environment of quality and process improvement.
• Ensures accurate and timely data collection and entry into patient database as indicated by department guidelines.
• Directs and coordinates identified quality assessment and improvement activities to assure quality patient services are monthly provided through audits and reviews other identified evaluation tools.
• Ensures patient care activities for the department services are monitored monthly through audits and reviews.
• Ensures and enhances facility, safety, and regulatory outcomes.
• Complies with all applicable laws, regulations and accrediting agencies.
• Complies with all Billings Clinic policies.
• Works in collaboration with Leadership team to ensure hospital and clinic departmental goals and objectives are met.
• Supports the hospital and clinic departmental goals.
• Contributes to community activities sponsored by the Cancer Center.
• Develops patient referral services by relationship-building strategies with physicians not related to the department.
• Performs other duties as assigned or needed to meet the needs of the department/organization.
• Works as an active team member and effective communicator
• Demonstrates effective internal and external communication strategies, written and verbal, to assure a collaborative environment.
• Ensures appropriate and timely documentation.
• Demonstrates a productive work ethic while on duty.
• Works consistently as an active team player, inter-and intra-departmentally
• Identifies needs and sets goals for own growth and development; meets all mandatory organizational and departmental requirements.
• Maintains competency in all organizational, departmental and outside agency environmental, employee or patient safety standards relevant to job performance.
• Identification and assistance for patients in potential benefit for genetic testing evaluation.
• Organization and record maintenance of appropriate record needs required for accreditation purposes.
• Performs other duties as assigned or needed to meet the needs of the department/organization.