General Summary of Position
The Nurse Navigator is 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.Plans: 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.Plans: Assists Patient Education: Provides initial and continuing education related to specific disease process, associated treatment modality, and agreed plan of care for patient and family.Patient Education: Available as a resource to assist in the provision of community education and outreach development.Implementation: Acts as a liaison between patients, families, the health care team, community resources and other facilities to coordinate the provision of care.Implementation: Acts as a patient advocate to help identify and eliminate barriers to care.Implementation: Acts as a clearinghouse for incoming referral calls in an effort to streamline the delivery and coordination of care.Implementation: Ensures patients' referral process and transition into specialty services are timely and efficient, anticipates patient and family needs throughout the continuum of care.Implementation: Explores and connects patients with appropriate resources, health care and support services within MedStar Washington Hospital Center, at other external facilities, and in their communities for timely diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.Takes action to support the National Patient Safety Goals, nursing sensitive indicators, regulatory requirements (i.e. DC Health, TJC) and other identified quality metrics.Supports and promotes quality and patient safety initiatives. Collaborates with physicians and associates to monitor and analyzes departmental performance data and identifies and participates in hospital and/or unit-based performance improvement activities including, but not limited to, core measures, nursing quality indicators, and other patient care outcomes (e.g. Length of stay and patient satisfaction).*Delivers direct patient care as required.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.Maintains a working knowledge of available clinical trials that might be appropriate to the patient population. Collaborates with research coordinators and/or principle 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.Promotes Pathway to Excellence standards through daily practice.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Associate's degree in Nursing required
- Bachelor's degree in Nursing preferred
- For candidates hired with an Associate degree, employment with MedStar Wahington Hospital Center is contingent upon enrollment into an accredited BSN program within one (1) year of employment and continuing matriculation in the program to achieve a BSN within 5 years of the program start date. Proof of enrollment to be submitted to Nurse Leader.
Experience
- 3or more years of progressively more responsible clinical nursing experience in specialty area required
Licenses and Certifications
- RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in the District of Columbia required
- 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
- Additional unit/specialty certifications may vary by department or business unit.
- Professional certification in clinical area required within one year of hire if appropriate (OCN, CCRN, etc). within 1 Year required
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Able to work as a part of an interdisciplinary team through open, frequent, and skilled verbal and written communication. Must be flexible, demonstrate problem solving skills, proactively prioritize and demonstrates healthy coping mechanisms.
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.
