What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Nurse I (Nurse Navigator Maxillofacial) - Oncology Service position at University of Illinois Hospital?
Position Summary
The Maxillofacial Navigator, utilizing the nursing process, provides education and resources to facilitate informed decision making and timely access to quality health and psychosocial 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 provides input to providers for long term and survivorship care. Through therapeutic relationships with patients, families, self and colleagues, the Maxillofacial Oncology Nurse Navigator functions as an interdisciplinary team member who provides quality patient care and fulfills department and organizational goals.
Duties & Responsibilities
• Clinical
• Provides comprehensive navigation services to patients being served by UI Health oncology, acting as 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 assisting with scheduling appointments and diagnostic testing, coordinating internal and external resources, expediting imaging, arranging consults 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.
• Works with patients and families to support use of palliative care services through advance care planning with providers to meet overall quality of life goals of care.
• Supports patients and providers by following up on referrals, treatment authorizations, and facilitating communication among specialties.
• Maintains thorough understanding of current research protocols available for enrollment.
• Participates in assigned cancer conferences, implements and follows up on decisions made. Communicates patients need to caregivers individually and through cancer conference participation.
• Tracks and reports on navigation activity and other assigned metrics.
• Completes required orientation program and unit-specific competencies.
• 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 and documents accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Engages and obtains information from patients and/or family to develop an appropriate patient educational plan.
• Demonstrates a commitment to UI Health’s values through teamwork and effective communication to achieve quality outcomes, patient safety, customer satisfaction and a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment.
• Other duties as assigned.
• 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 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
•Serve 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 and partners with community outreach at UI Health
•Serves as preceptor and/or resource to other nursing staff and students.
•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 identification of learning needs and initiates strategies to meet such needs.