Nurse Navigator

Department Description: The Lymphatic Center at BIDMC is a multidisciplinary program, with dedicated expertise in multiple areas including surgery, medicine, lymphatic therapy, diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine, interventional radiology.

The ideal applicant will be organized and detail oriented and will possess strong verbal and email communication skills.

Job Location: Boston, MA

Req ID: 36480BR


Job Summary: The BIDMC Nursing Mission is to build on a legacy of nursing excellence by caring with compassion, advancing the art & science of nursing, and advocating for the health of patients, families, and communities. The Nurse Navigator's primary function is to serve as first contact for patients to assist with logistical navigation through the care continuum; provide a link between patients and physicians; act as the liaison between clinical specialists and physicians to improve coordination of treatment. They guide patients and families through the health care system from the time of diagnosis through their duration of care, by assisting them with access to needed services, developing relationships with various providers and tracking interventions and outcomes. Coordinates this care to ensure safe, effective, efficient patient centered care. Serves as a central resource to patients and families to ensure exemplary care is provided. Communicates effectively with the Radiology & Surgery personnel and other department personnel. The Nurse Navigator also provides education to patients and staff about the diagnosis and treatment modalities. Training, evaluation and competencies for this role are overseen by a Nurse Leader to the department.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Initiates communication with patients upon learning they have a positive finding. Guides patients through the health care system. Assists patients in connecting with community and social support services. Serves as a liaison between patient, PCP, surgeon, medical oncologist or medical specialist, and other providers. Facilitates interaction and communication with health care staff and providers.
2. Provides health education to individuals and groups. Develops and maintains a learning library for patients that include language specific materials.
3. Identifies personnel in departments involved with their care (i.e., physicians, nurses, radiology, social services, radiation oncology & hematology/oncology, etc.) and develop relationships with them.
4. Assists/directs patients with any questions/ concerns regarding payment of services. Assists with arranging for patient transportation where needed. Builds relationships with other patient navigators.
5. Tracks interventions and outcomes. Participates in medication reconciliation, especially during transitions of care.

Required Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree required.
2. License Registered Nurse required., and Certificate 1 Basic Life Support required.
3. 3-5 years related work experience required in clinical medical-surgical.
4. Strong analytic skills with quality and data analysis.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to work with a variety of personalities and disciplines.
6. Experience with interdisciplinary health care approach.
7. Experience with computer systems required, including web based applications and some Microsoft Office applications which may include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Access.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. OCN, Patient Navigator, Nurse Navigator or equivalent certification preferred.

Competencies:

1. Decision Making: Ability to make decisions that are guided by precedents, policies and objectives. Regularly makes decisions and recommendations on issues affecting a department or functional area.
2. Problem Solving: Ability to address problems that are highly varied, complex and often non-recurring, requiring staff input, innovative, creative, and Lean diagnostic techniques to resolve issues.
3. Independence of Action: Ability to set goals and determines how to accomplish defined results with some guidelines. Manager/Director provides broad guidance and overall direction.
4. Written Communications: Ability to summarize and communicate in English moderately complex information in varied written formats to internal and external customers.
5. Oral Communications: Ability to comprehend and communicate complex verbal information in English to medical center staff, patients, families and external customers.
6. Knowledge: Ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of concepts, practices and policies with the ability to use them in complex varied situations.
7. Team Work: Ability to act as a team leader for small projects or work groups, creating a collaborative and respectful team environment and improving workflows. Results may impact the operations of one or more departments.
8. Customer Service: Ability to provide a high level of customer service and staff training to meet customer service standards and expectations for the assigned unit(s). Resolves service issues in the assigned unit(s) in a timely and respectful manner.

Age based Competencies:
Employees in this job must be competent to provide patient care to the following age groups: Young adult: 16-30 years, Middle Age: 30 - 60 years, Elderly: 60 -.
Physical Nature of the Job:
Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Some elements of the job are sedentary, but the employee will be required to stand for periods of time or move through out the hospital campus