UI Health - Staff Nurse I (Nurse Navigator), Oncology Service Line

Position Summary

The Cancer Prevention and Genetics Nurse Navigator, utilizing the nursing process, provides education and resources to facilitate informed decision-making and timely access to quality health and psycho-social care to patients being served by UI Health. The Nurse Navigator uses initiative and oncology expertise to improve timeliness of care, coordinate complex processes, address barriers to care, develop nursing plans, and provide input to providers for long-term and survivorship care. Through therapeutic relationships with patients, families, self, and colleagues, the Cancer Prevention and Genetics Nurse Navigator functions as an interdisciplinary team member who provides quality patient care and fulfills department and organizational goals. Staff Nurse I is accountable for the delivery of patient care utilizing the Nursing Process and Relationship-Based Care model as the framework. The Staff Nurse I provides direct patient care and takes initiative to improve patient outcomes.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and updates the patient's plan of care based on on-going assessment of the patient and input from the patient's family.
• Shares information and collaborates with other members of the health care team to promote effective patient care.
• Verifies and implements orders from physician, physician assistant and/or advance practice nurse by performing interventions as prescribed by the provider and documenting accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Engages and obtains information from patient and/or family to develop an appropriate patient educational plan.
• Recognizes symptoms, establishes priorities, and responds to patient's changing needs.
• Engages support personnel by delegating appropriate tasks per the Illinois State Nurse Practice Act and provides support and feedback.
• Advocates for patients, families, and their significant others, the community, and the nursing profession.
• Integrates theoretical knowledge, evidence-based research, current standards of practice and clinical experience to provide "quality" patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting health care bodies.
• Assumes role of Charge Nurse when assigned, utilizing appropriate resources and tools.
• Collaborates with other nurses to identify, promote, and provide positive learning experiences for staff and students.
• Serves as preceptor and/or resource to other nursing, support staff and students.
• Takes responsibility for continued professional growth/development by identification of learning needs and initiates strategies to meet such needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Clinical

• Provides comprehensive navigation services to patients being served by UI Health oncology, acting as a consistent point of contact, care coordinator, educator, and advocate throughout the care continuum.
• Develops professional relationships with patients and serves as their consistent point of contact to coordinate and expedite their care, including but not limited to scheduling appointments and diagnostics, coordinating internal and external resources, expediting imaging, arranging consults and surgical clearances, and ensuring outside records are available in time for scheduled services.
• Works with patients and families to identify and mitigate barriers to care. Assists patients and families in connecting with applicable community resources; internal ancillary, rehabilitative, support, and complementary services; and research protocols when appropriate.
• Supports patients and providers by following up on referrals, treatment authorizations, peer-to-peer reviews, and facilitating communication among specialties.
• Verifies and implements orders from physicians, physician assistants, and/or advanced practice nurses and documents accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Communicating reclassification and low-risk genetic testing results to patients.
• Works with patients and families to support the use of palliative care services through advanced care planning with providers to meet overall quality of life goals of care.
• Participates in and supports screening and prevention programs, including cancer genetics.
• Shares information and collaborates with other members of the health care team to promote effective patient care.
• Participates in assigned cancer conferences, documents discussions and decisions, implements, and follows up on decisions made. Communicates patient needs to caregivers individually and through cancer conference participation.
• Engages and obtains information from the patient and/or family to develop an appropriate patient educational plan.
• Completes required orientation program and unit-specific competencies.
• Maintains a thorough understanding of current research protocols available for enrollment.
• Tracks and reports on navigation activity and other assigned metrics.
• Demonstrates a commitment to UI Health's values through teamwork and effective communication in an effort to achieve quality outcomes, patient safety, customer satisfaction, and a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment.

Professional Leadership

• Advocates for patients, families, and their significant others, the community, and the nursing profession.
• Integrates theoretical knowledge, evidence-based research, current standards of practice, and clinical experience to provide "quality" patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting health care bodies.
• Recognizes and supports Shared Leadership as the selected method of nursing governance.
• Participates in organizational, departmental, and shared leadership activities; supports department and unit goals in daily behavior.
• Demonstrates accountability for job performance by: (1) seeking opportunities to enhance job skills and knowledge; (2) maintaining conditions of employment (RN licensure, BLS, and other required unit-specific certifications).
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge, expertise, licensure, and certification.
• Pursues appropriate continuing education and development opportunities in the field.
• Receives and provides feedback to members of the health care team regarding performance/practice.

Organizational

• Adheres to UI Health's Code of Conduct. Promotes patient, family, provider, staff, and guest satisfaction by exhibiting UI Health's core values.
• Treats patients/families, staff, students, and visitors with respect and dignity.
• Adheres to time, overtime, and attendance policies.
• Completes electronic learning modules and related programs as assigned by UI Health by the established date.
• Complies with University Health Services TB, flu compliance, and fit testing requirements.
• Utilizes established communication channels/chain of command to escalate or resolve patient care problems.
• Identifies recurring clinical practice and/or related unit problems and participates in problem-solving and resolution.
• Adheres to the dress code policy.

Education/Research

• Serves as patient educator for disease pathology and treatment plans.
• Collaborates with other nurses to identify, promote, and provide positive learning experiences for staff and students.
• Serves as an educator to the community for screening and prevention of cancer, including cancer genetics.
• Serves as preceptor and/or resource to other nursing staff and students.
• Provide education and contracting for patients, providers, and community members about the purpose and process of genetic counseling and/or testing.
• Accesses UI Health intranet/Outlook for relevant communication and to review and interpret changes in policy, procedure, and other information pertinent to practice.
• Supports nursing and multidisciplinary research efforts conducted on the unit and UI Health.
• Takes responsibility for continued professional growth/development by identifying learning needs and initiating strategies to meet such needs.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.