RN Stroke Nurse Navigator - Neuro - Full-Time

Job Summary: />The role of the Stroke Nurse Navigator is to serve as a patient advocate by partnering with patients and their families in effort to improve each patient's and family's ability to navigate the complex healthcare system and to adapt to life after stroke. The Stroke Nurse Navigator will strive to create a seamless transition via established care pathways. This is accomplished through multidisciplinary interaction, symptom assessment and nursing management, education, care coordination, resource allocation and communication as identified by continuous needs assessments. The expectations are that the navigator function autonomously and will demonstrate professional behavior as he/she interfaces with the community, healthcare team and the patients. In addition, he/she will be accountable for tracking identified navigational and quality metrics as well as implementation of interventions to attain and maintain set metrics. /> />The Stroke Nurse Navigator will serve as a person link among the patient, their physician, and the services provided at Erlanger Health System, understand the needs of the patient and supply any needed education, information, or resource materials, coordinate appointments and schedule tests to ensure timely care, maintain contact with the patient through the course of treatment, answer any ongoing questions, and help ease stress and provide for a positive experience, and communicate with physicians, support service staff, and the patient's family to ensure that the patient is receiving necessary services and support. /> />Education: />Required: />Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing. Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (required within 2 years of hire) /> />Preferred: />BSN /> />Experience: />Required: />Greater than 2 years experience in care for patients diagnosed with stroke /> />Preferred: />Prior educator or navigation experience /> />Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration />Required: />Current licensure to practice nursing in the state of Tennessee. /> />The Nurse Licensure Compact will not change how to obtain or renew a Tennessee license. However, the Tennessee nursing license will be a single state license for Tennessee Residents or non-compact state residents. Tennessee licensure or multistate licensure from a compact state must be obtained within three months of hire for non-Tennessee residents. /> />Preferred: />Stroke Nursing Certification (SCRN), or required within 2 years, and other specialty certification as appropriate within 2 years as determined by manager. /> />Department Position Summary: />The Stroke Nurse Navigator is responsible for ensuring coordinated quality, seamless, and comprehensive services throughout the disease/wellness continuum The navigator functions on the multidisciplinary team as an advocate, interpreter, educator, clinical liaison, counselor and collaborator for stroke patients and their caregivers. He/She will identify patient's potential and realized barriers to care and will work to attain resources to mitigate those barriers. He/She will develop relationships with primary care physicians to assist in education, follow up, create increased ease of access to stroke support services and transition of patient to and from the primary care-provider's practice. The navigator will partner with community organizations such as the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association in outreach opportunities. He/She will attend and promote wellness activities and other programs at area health fairs. The navigator will act as a liaison within the facility and in the community promoting awareness of services that are provided by The Southeast Regional Stroke Center at Erlanger. He/She will assist, as deemed appropriate, in research activities. He/She will work with the Neuroscience leadership team to collect data, track outcomes and support the strategic planning processes. He/She will develop and deliver quarterly reports to the Neuroscience Service Line Committee on identified outcome metrics attained through performance improvement activities. He/She will work to ensure compliance with the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, CMS, and Joint Commission/DNV standards. He/She will be accountable for researching and networking to seek grant funding opportunities for the designated programs. The Navigator is able to facilitate stroke support groups as necessary to improve quality of life and survivorship. He/She will deliver compassionate, holistic care, while supporting the rights and dignity of all patients. /> />The Stroke Nurse Navigator demonstrates knowledge, skill and competency when applying evidence based practices, theory, principles and processes of professional nursing. He/She will have experience working collaboratively with medical teams and has the ability to build and maintain solid interdepartmental relationships. The Navigator is knowledgeable of current methods of treatment, new pharmaceutical agents, available community resources, insurance, financial assistance, counseling and support services. The Navigator will ensure that all personal, patient and departmental safety guidelines are upheld. /> />The roles/responsibilities of the Stroke Nurse Navigator include: />Directing patients/families to stroke resources and support groups />Educating patients/families about stroke to avoid stroke recurrence />Encouraging medication compliance />Ensuring patients stay connected to the healthcare system throughout recovery />Following patients for up to a year after their stroke />Guiding patients/families through the Erlanger Health System />Monitoring patient quality of life /> />The goals of a Stroke Nurse Navigator include, but not limited to the following: />Improve medication compliance />Promote follow-up physician appointments />Decrease re-admission />Minimize emergency room visits post discharge />Evaluate quality of life post discharge />Assess Barthel Index (BI) />Follow up phone calls at 7 days, 30 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year /> />The objectives of the Stroke Nurse Navigator role include, but aren't limited to: />Education (staff, patients, families) />Quality monitoring for The Joint Commission/DNV />Coordinate care amongst providers />Patient Liaison through continuum of care />Community outreach />Provide stroke resources />Make referrals and follow up appointments (if appropriate) />Improved patient satisfaction