Duke University Health System (DUHS) Job Descriptions

ONCOLOGY NURSE NAVIGATOR

Job Title: ONCOLOGY NURSE NAVIGATOR
Job Code: 5640
FLSA: E
Job Level: H2
Revised Date: 03/01/2024
Supervisory Responsibility: No

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General Description of the Job Class

The Oncology Nurse Navigator (ONN) is a professional RN with oncology- specific knowledge who offers personalized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to address health system barriers. For patients with barriers, health-related social needs, or other factors that contribute to risk of untimely or fragmented care, the ONN assesses for and addresses barriers, provides patient with personalized education and support, and communicates with other members of care team to support patient receiving timely, quality care (medical and psychosocial care).

Due to the complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-site care model of cancer care, the oncology nurse navigator has specific clinical knowledge of the care, the other treatment providers, and the disease process that is critical to support patients and families across the continuum, from prevention and screening to survivorship or end of life.

The ONN builds and maintains trusting relationships with patients and caregivers, and collaborators in the cancer care continuum (community resources, primary care providers, cancer care providers, etc., as appropriate) to support communication, defragmentation, and seamless, timely care.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

For Oncology patients with barriers or health-related social needs, or other factors that contribute to risk of untimely or fragmented care, the ONN identifies & addresses barriers and communicates with other members of care team to support patients.

For Oncology patients with highly acute care needs, such as complex treatment plans, multiple co-morbidities, etc., the ONN provides focused education and support, addresses barriers, and communicates with other members of the care team to support patient on cancer continuum.

Provide communication, advocacy, and education in a culturally competent manner.

Ability to clinically triage identified complex patient cases (those with significant barriers and health-related social needs or otherwise identified as a vulnerable population within oncology) and navigation referrals efficiently to ensure timely, equitable access to care.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary care team (including cancer specialists, primary care, and other specialists) to facilitate shared decision making and engagement of patients in their care.

Provide education and reinforcement of clinical information to oncology patients and caregivers about screenings, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, end of life, psychosocial care, other specialty care, as needed/appropriate.

Focused symptom assessment and management for identified patient population in oncology. Assess physical and psychosocial needs for identified patient population and provide education, referrals for services (medical family therapists, clinical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, etc.), and communication with collaborating clinicians on care for patients.

Assess health literacy and educational needs of oncology patient and family caregivers. Provide personalized education to patient and family members, and coordinate with care team to ensure any barriers are identified and addressed.

Assess and document patient's needs, goals, and preferences and work to ensure such are integrated into treatment and care delivery.

Identify gaps in, or fragmented care, and facilitate reduction or elimination of barriers to seamless, timely care through patient or system-focused interventions

Enhance access to oncology clinical trials and optimize communication with patients, families and investigators regarding clinical trials, including personalized education for patients about clinical trials, build trusting relationships in relation to clinical trials, and support the patients in shared decision making regarding participation in clinical trials.

Monitor identified patient population's participation in care (i.e. cancellations, no shows, adherence to treatment plans) and collaborate with patient to identify barriers/needs and with other clinicians on strategies, in order to help patients with adherence to care or possible adaptations to care.

Educate multidisciplinary colleagues about the role of the ONN, identified barriers, available resources, and the navigation process.

Report navigation program outcomes to key stakeholders

Possess leadership skills including staff education, preceptorship, patient education, and participate in process improvement initiatives.

Practice according to professional and legal standards.

Maintain navigation services documentation according to program standards.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

BSN required.

MSN preferred.

Experience

Three years of experience of specialty specific nursing in a hospital, clinic, or community setting.

Experience in nurse navigation preferred

Completion of national nurse navigation training preferred. Navigation training or credential to be completed within 2 years of hire.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina. BLS required.

Specialty Oncology certification (OCN, ONN-CG, ONS, AOCNS, AOCNP, CPHON, BMTCN, CBCN) required within 3 years of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Excellent written, oral and conversational communication skills to effectively work with diverse groups.

Ability to analyze, evaluate multiple solutions and solve complex problems using well developed critical & analytical thinking skills.

Excellent time management skills needed to prioritize among many competing priorities.

Attention to detail needed to operate accurately and effectively.

Mastery of Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel, and use of health record for documentation and/or reporting. Ability to promote programs and services to community

Extensive understanding of patient care

Proficient in review of medical records and other patient care information

Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication

Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

Ability to promote and build teamwork and multidisciplinary care concept.

Metric tracking skills

Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level

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The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

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Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

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Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.