Patient Navigator, RN

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation HIV/AIDS prevention immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the worlds leading cancer infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology infusion radiation proton therapy and related services and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the worlds deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration compassion determination excellence innovation integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity dignity and inherent value of each employee patient community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The Oncology Nurse Navigator is a member of an interdisciplinary care team. This role provides patient centric care and is primarily responsible for the care of patients with past current or potential diagnosis of cancer. Assist patients families and caregiver to overcome healthcare system barriers and provide education and resources to facilitate informed decision making and timely access to quality health and psychosocial care throughout all phases of the cancer continuum.

This position is 0.5 FTE 20 hours/week.

• Uses critical thinking and the nursing process to assess and meet the needs of patients by providing care coordination throughout the cancer continuum
• Works between the domains of the patient and family unit and the healthcare delivery system to improve health treatment or end-of-life outcomes
• Demonstrates effective communication with peers members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team health care partners community organizations and resources
• Assesses physical emotional social spiritual needs of the patients and families and identifies barriers to care. Provides support and referrals to decrease barriers
• Follows care pathways to place orders for the providers for diagnostic workup and ensures timely appointments
• Integrates research and evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice
• Facilitates the appropriate and efficient delivery of healthcare services both within and across systems to promote optimal outcomes while delivering patient-centered care.

Required:

• Nursing Degree
• Two years of nursing experience
• Must have current Washington State Registered Nurse (RN) license or current NLC multistate license (MSL); and MSL with Primary State of Residence to WA is required within 60 days of hire. This requirement may be waived under specific circumstances subject to approval.
• Current BLS AHA Health Provider Card (or equivalent course such as by the American Red Cross) and renewal required every two years
• Promotes lifelong learning and evidence-based practice by self and others to improve the care of patients with a current or potential diagnosis of cancer
• Demonstrates professionalism within both the workplace and community through respectful interactions and effective teamwork
• Disseminates knowledge of the ONN role to other healthcare team members through peer education mentoring and preceptor experiences
• Participates in the tracking of metrics and patient outcomes in collaboration with administration to document and evaluate outcomes of the navigation program and report findings to the cancer committee
• Promotes a patient- and family-centered care environment for ethical decision making and advocacy for patients with cancer
• Establishes and maintains professional role boundaries with patients caregivers and the multidisciplinary care team in collaboration with manager as defined by job description
• In collaboration with other members of the healthcare team builds partnerships with local agencies and groups that may assist with cancer patient care support or educational needs.
• Critical thinking; the ability to practice the cognitive skills of analyzing applying standards discriminating information seeking logical reasoning predicting and transforming knowledge
• Assesses educational needs of patients families and caregivers taking into consideration barriers to care (e.g. literacy language cultural influences comorbidities)
• Provides and reinforces education to patients families and caregivers about diagnosis treatment options side effect management and post-treatment care and survivorship
• Educates patients families and caregivers on the role of the ONN.
• Orients and educates patients families and caregivers to the cancer healthcare system multidisciplinary team member roles and available resources
• Promotes autonomous decision making by patients through the provision of personalized education and support
• As part of the multidisciplinary team provides education and reinforces to patients families and caregivers the significance of adherence to treatment schedules protocols and follow-up
• Assesses and promotes healthy lifestyle choices and self-care strategies through education and appropriate referrals to ancillary services
• Provides anticipatory guidance education and appropriate referrals to assist patients in coping with the diagnosis of cancer and its potential or expected outcomes
• Promotes awareness of clinical trials to patients families and caregivers.
• Assesses patient needs upon initial encounter and periodically throughout navigation matching unmet needs with appropriate services and referrals and support services such as dietitians providers social work and financial services
• Develops or uses appropriate assessment tools (e.g. distress thermometer pain scale fatigue scale performance status) to promote a consistent holistic plan of care
• Facilitates timely scheduling of appointments diagnostic testing and procedures to expedite the plan of care and to promote continuity of care
• Participates in coordination of the plan of care with the multidisciplinary team promoting timely follow-up on treatment and supportive care recommendations
• Facilitates individualized care within the context of functional status cultural consideration health literacy and psychosocial and spiritual needs for patients family and caregiver
• Assists in the identification of candidates for genetic counseling and facilitates appropriate referrals
• Supports a smooth transition of patients from active treatment into survivorship or end-of-life care
• Uses an ethical framework regarding patient care to assist patients with cancer with issues related to treatment goals advance directives palliative care and end-of-life concerns
• Ensures documentation of patient encounters and provided services
• Applies basic knowledge of insurance processes (e.g. Medicare Medicaid third-party payers) and their impact on staging referrals and patient care decisions toward establishing appropriate referrals as needed.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the Fred Hutch Clinical Pathways
• Builds therapeutic and trusting relationships with patients families and caregivers through effective communication and listening skills
• Acts as a liaison between the patients families and caregivers and the providers to optimize patient outcomes
• Advocates for patients to promote optimal care and outcomes
• Provides psychosocial support to and facilitates appropriate referrals for patients families and caregivers especially during periods of high emotional stress and anxiety
• Empowers patients and families through education and encouragement to self- advocate and communicate their needs
• Adheres to established regulations concerning patient information and privacy
• Ensures that communication is culturally sensitive
• Facilitates communication among members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team to prevent fragmented or delayed care that could adversely affect patient outcomes.

Preferred:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Outpatient care coordination
• OCN certification