- Climate, Health and Equity
- Public Health Under Threat
- COVID-19
- Racial Equity
- Environmental Health
- Gun Violence
- Health Equity
- All Topics and Issues
- Vaccines
- American Journal of Public Health
- The Nation's Health
- Books
- Fact Sheets
- Reports and Issue Briefs
- Advertising
- Public Health Buyers Guide
- Publications Contacts
Career Center
Durham, North Carolina
Sacramento, California
Johnson City, Tennessee
Tacoma, Washington
Cincinnati, Ohio
Lowell, Massachusetts
Bloomington, Indiana
Washington, D.C.
Houston, Texas
Presque Isle, Maine
Portland, Maine
Posted: 16-Mar-25
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Categories:
Internal Number: 254345
At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.
About Duke University Hospital
Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.
This Oncology Nurse Navigator position will focus on supporting complex Head and Neck Cancer patients to decrease untimely and fragmented care at the Duke Cancer Center in Durham. The Navigator assesses patients for barriers, identifies at-risk patients and helps connect the patient with resources to improve treatment compliance and appointment arrival rate. The Navigator assesses health literacy and provides personalized education throughout all phases of care to support and promote patient advocacy. The Nurse Navigator is a crucial member of the careteam to ensure multidisciplinary actions are followed up on to provide comprehensive and high-quality care for our patients.
This is a hybrid position with 3-4 days onsite per week meeting patients in clinic and supporting the careteam and 1-2 days remote per week following up with patients via phone and video.
Occ Summary
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, andcollaborators in the cancer care continuum (community resources, primary care providers, cancer care providers, etc., as appropriate) to support communication, defragmentation, and seamless, timely care.
Work Performed
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 Oncologypatients 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. Providepersonalized 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.
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
Minimum Qualifications
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed toproviding employment opportunity without regard to an indiv idual's age,color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identit y, geneticinformation, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orie ntation,or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a c ommunity built on collaboration,innovation, creativity, and belonging. O ur collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas-anexchange that is best when the richdiversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, a nd experiences flourishes.To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of thecommunity feel secure and welcome, that the contribut ions of allindividuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members ofour community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University andDuke University Health System may include essentialjob f unctions thatrequire specific physical and/or mental abilities. Addition alinformation and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation wi llbe provided by each hiring department.
E ducation
BSN required.MSN preferred.
Experience
< p>Three years of experience of specialty specific nursing in a hospital, clinic, or community setting.Experience in nurse navigation preferredCom pletion of national nurse navigation training preferred. Navigationtrain ing or credential to be completed within 2 years of hire.
Degrees , Licensures, Certifications
Must have current or compact RN lice nsure in the state of NorthCarolina. BLS required.Specialty Oncology cer tification (OCN, ONN-CG, ONS, AOCNS, AOCNP, CPHON,BMTCN, CBCN) required within 3 years of hire.
Duke 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.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob 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.
