General Summary of Position
Responsible for the coordination of patient care across the continuum under the auspices of a provider's prescribed plan of care, national guidelines, and within the scope of nursing practice. The navigator educates/provides information and support to patients in order to guide and facilitate understanding of treatment plans prescribed by licensed independent practitioners and/or within scope of nursing practice. Oversees, directs, and provides holistic, culturally competent and evidence-based nursing care. Monitors patient outcomes and participates in quality improvement activities. Contributes to and collaborates with health care team members to positively impact patient outcomes and patient experiences. The Nurse Navigator is recognized as a professional role model and clinical expert and promotes a professional environment that supports nursing excellence and collaborative shared decision-making.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Assessment: Obtains a baseline of information used for the development of the individualized plan of care.Plans: Works with an interdisciplinary team throughout the continuum of care to develop and manage the plan of care for the patient. Assists patient/family with scheduling ancillary testing and other services and presenting necessary history, diagnostic/treatment studies and/or results, etc through the continuum of care. Assists Evaluation: Monitors patient progress, goal attainment and patient experience feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of care. Ensures plan of care changes are communicated to patient, family, and team.Possesses working knowledge of physician/health care team members' plan of care, appropriate professional guidelines and standards of care. Contributes to development of internal clinical guidelines/pathways.Monitors patient outcomes and utilizes quality improvement activities and strategies that support quality patient care and optimizes outcomes in an interdisciplinary care environment and consistent with patient and family wishes.Demonstrates competencies, including knowledge and behaviors, to meet specific patient care requirements, nursing practice standards, and other regulatory or required knowledge and /or skills.* Maintains current knowledge of clinical improvement strategies and outcomes management through self-study, literature reviews, site visits, educational conferences, and other forums.May be responsible to maintain a working knowledge of available clinical trials that might be appropriate to the patient population. Collaborates with research coordinators and/or principal investigators to ensure adherence to research protocols.Supports a professional atmosphere and an environment of coaching and development that supports shared decision making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a high level of patient and employee satisfaction as evidenced by outcomes data.Oncology: Manages and tracks budgets of Cancer Committee approved support groups. Reviews available health education materials and makes recommendations for utilization. Coordinates and facilitates, to patients in our service area, the Cancer Committee approved support programs. Provides the necessary support to the Tumor Registrar in a timely manner. Actively participates in routine Tumor Boards/Cancer Conferences. Develops and maintains partnerships with physicians to promote utilization of MGH Cancer Center, the Navigator, and other MGH Cancer-related services. Participates in planning and administration of hospital organized education/prevention and cancer screenings. Provides screening results/navigation follow up and reports this information to Cancer Committee.Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety standards. Assures compliance with Federal and State regulations.Participates in multidisciplinary quality and service improvement teams as appropriate. Participates in meetings, serves on committees and represents the department and hospital/facility in community outreach efforts as appropriate.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree BSN required and
- Master's degree in Nursing preferred
Experience
- 3-4 years of progressively more responsible clinical nursing experience in specialty area required and
- Case Management, discharge planning, or Oncology experience may be preferred based on location preferred
Licenses and Certifications
- RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in the State of Maryland or District of Columbia Upon Hire required and
- AOCN - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse based on location Upon Hire preferred and
- CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (includes BLS and NRP) for healthcare providers from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross within 90 Days required and
- Additional unit/specialty certifications may vary by department or business unit.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong assessment skills of patient needs and concerns.
- Ability to perform duties autonomously under direction of multiple disciplines.
- Basic computer skills.
- Effective interpersonal skills including excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Why MedStar Health?
At MedStar Health, we understand that our ability to treat others well begins with how we treat each other. We work hard to foster an inclusive and positive environment where our associates feel valued, connected, and empowered. We live up to this promise through:
- Strong emphasis on teamwork - our associates feel connected to each other and our mission as an organization. In return, our effective team environment generates positive patient outcomes and high associate satisfaction ratings that exceed the national benchmark.
- Strategic focus on equity, inclusion, & diversity - we are committed to equity for all people and communities. We continue to build a diverse and inclusive workplace where people feel a sense of belonging and the ability to contribute to equitable care delivery and improved community health outcomes at all levels of the organization.
- Comprehensive total rewards package - including competitive pay, generous paid time off, great health and wellness benefits, retirement savings, education assistance, and so much more.
- More career opportunities closer to home - as the largest healthcare provider in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region, there are countless opportunities to grow your career and fulfill your aspirations.
About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation, and research. Our team of 32,000 includes physicians, nurses, residents, fellows, and many other clinical and non-clinical associates working in a variety of settings across our health system, including 10 hospitals and more than 300 community-based locations, the largest home health provider in the region, and highly respected institutes dedicated to research and innovation. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University for more than 20 years, MedStar Health is dedicated not only to teaching the next generation of doctors, but also to the continuing education, professional development, and personal fulfillment of our whole team. Together, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. It’s how we treat people.
MedStar Health is an Equal Opportunity (EO) Employer and assures equal opportunity for all applicants and employees. We hire people to work in different locations, and we comply with the federal, state and local laws governing each of those locations. MedStar Health makes all decisions regarding employment, including for example, hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, benefit eligibility, discipline, and discharge without regard to any protected status, including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sex, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliations, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local EO laws. If you receive an offer of employment, it is MedStar Health's policy to hire its employees on an at-will basis, which means you or MedStar Health may terminate this relationship at any time, for any reason.
