Rozina Aziz We’ll show you everything you need to know to succeed in this field if that’s your goal. This article will cover all you need to know about Nurse Navigator, including the educational prerequisites, the work description, and the income range you may expect.
What is Nurse Navigator?
A nurse navigator is a medical professional who stays by a person’s side from the time of diagnosis through treatment and, in the worse‐-scenario, until the time of their passing. They act as a liaison between the patient and the clinical care team, watching for the patient’s well-being while receiving potentially life-altering news.
Most of a Nurse Navigator’s time is spent with oncology patients who may soon undergo chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. There is a need for this specialized role in cardiology and other subspecialties of critical care, such as emergency medicine.
The essence of their role is providing individualized care to patients, their loved ones, and the people caring for them. Considering the patient’s clinical, financial, psychological, and spiritual demands is crucial. An illustration would be the most helpful in defining a Nurse Navigator. A cancer patient receiving therapy needs the care of oncology.
A primary care doctor, an oncologist, an oncology nurse, a palliative care physician, a social worker, a genetic counselor, a pathologist, a clinical pharmacist, a diagnostic radiologist, and a physical therapist are all members of the comprehensive healthcare team (CHT). It can be very stressful to deal with so many professionals simultaneously.
A skilled Oncology Nurse Navigator can be a real lifesaver at this difficult time. From diagnosis through post-treatment care, an Oncology Nurse Navigator is a patient’s advocate and resource. They bridge the gap between the patient and the oncology team by delivering care through counseling, education, and support.
Such assistance is priceless for a vulnerable population like cancer sufferers. Clinics and hospitals are the most clinical places of employment for RN Navigators. Patient Navigators are expected to work closely with medical professionals from other facilities and those from their own. Those seeking this nursing position would also benefit from an extensive network of contacts in relevant community organizations.
What are the responsibilities of a Nurse Navigator?
A nurse navigator works with patients who need help navigating the health care system. It’s an extremely rewarding job. Education, tools, monitoring symptoms, and mental health support are essential.
A more comprehensive list of duties Nurse Navigators performs can be seen below.
- Educate patients about their disease, prescription treatment, and adverse effects openly and compassionately.
- Answer patients’ medical inquiries at every stage of their treatment. If you cannot answer a patient’s questions to their satisfaction, are you willing to act as a go-between between the patient and the doctor?
- Provide directions regarding treatment techniques.
- Offer access to clinical facilities. Patients needing access to reliable information, a second opinion, or treatment that is only available at a different institution may all necessitate travel. Patients should not Google their symptoms because doing so could cause more medical difficulties. That is why supplying reliable clinical materials is an important aspect of the job.
- Participate in an interdisciplinary health team. Nurse Navigators are one step in a complex healthcare network. Working together with doctors, other nurses and social services professionals is an important part of nursing jobs.
- Do something about the healthcare system’s bureaucracy. For instance, you could answer the patient’s inquiries concerning money, transportation, childcare, and other related topics. In certain situations, you may need to act as a liaison between patients and social workers.
- Ensure timely arrangements are made for tests, meetings, and therapies.
- Ensure that information is easily accessible. This includes, but isn’t limited to, translating medical documents (where there is a barrier between languages), and understanding medical terminology.
- It is important to teach family and caregivers how to appropriately provide care for a person within a home setting.
How to Become a Nurse Navigator?
What follows is a discussion of the several measures required to earn a position as a Nurse Navigator.
Step 1: Enroll in a nursing program
The initial step in becoming a Navigator is the same as any other prospective nurse: selecting a recognized nursing program that suits your criteria: length, cost, personal desire, etc., and enrolling in it.
An Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is required for entry into the field of Nurse Navigator. A nursing associate’s degree program is the first choice available. This degree takes roughly two years to complete.
The second choice is to earn a four-year degree in nursing. This degree will take four more years to complete than other degrees, but you will receive extensive training that will make you an outstanding nurse. Employers are also giving BSN-holding nurses a leg up when filling RN vacancies.
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN and acquire RN licensure
Getting an accredited nursing degree is the first step to beginning a successful career in nursing. Passing the NCLEX-RN is a prerequisite to practicing as a registered nurse. This comprehensive test covers everything from basic anatomy to advanced nursing skills.
Step 3: Get to Work
The Registered Nurse Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) is the ultimate goal of your nursing education. After you’ve passed the exam and become licensed as a registered nurse, you can begin applying for positions in the field of your choice, such as nurse navigation.Take the time to update your resume and practice for nursing interviews, and you’ll soon be getting ready each morning for your ideal career.
Step 4: Considering Accreditation
Professional certification is helpful but not required for nurses. You’ll be better respected by your colleagues and superiors, more confident in your abilities, and have more prospects for professional growth once you earn your RN certification.
The following credentials are available for consideration by prospective Nurse Navigator certification candidates:
- Oncology Nurse Navigator (CN) credential from the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+)
- The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation offers credentials that are tailored to the field of oncology (ONCC)
Remember that there are different prerequisites and requirements for each credential. Depending on the type of certification, its validity period is quite short (3–5 years).
What characteristics make an ideal nurse navigator?
Gaining employment as a Nurse Navigator involves more than just a head for facts. Here are some traits and abilities that will help you succeed in your role:
Therapeutic Communication:
Therapeutic communication is a cornerstone of effective nursing care and a must-have ability for Navigator Nurses. Therapeutic nursing communication is characterized by respect and compassion, encouraging patients to disclose their physical, mental, and emotional needs and helping nurses deliver optimal care.
Moreover, nurses in this role are expected to work closely with a wide variety of other healthcare professionals. Because of this, effective and consistent communication is crucial to delivering high-quality nursing care to those who depend on it most.
Open-mindedness:
To succeed as a Navigator RN, you must be open to understanding and respecting patients’ values and worldviews, even if they differ significantly from your own. As a healthcare provider, you must act as an intermediary between the patient’s wants and the necessary medical interventions, considering the patient’s culture and way of life. You may do that by being open to patient feedback, conducting thorough research, and keeping an open mind.
Cultural Awareness:
The role of the nurse navigator requires an appreciation for the diversity of patient perspectives. To create a treatment plan appropriate for the patient’s culture, they must be willing to listen to the patient’s concerns openly and honestly.
The Maintenance of Confidentiality Regarding Patients:
Keeping with HIPAA rules is a responsibility shared by all nurses. However, the nurse navigator’s function frequently necessitates multiple communication channels and a wide variety of touch points. Because of the potential impact on patient’s right to privacy, this may call for heightened vigilance.
Empathy:
Working as a Nurse Navigator means dealing with some of society’s most vulnerable people. These individuals must now deal with the reality that their lives will be drastically altered due to the diagnosis they have just received. Because of this, you’ll need a lot of sympathy and understanding to guide them through these traumatic health changes.
Organizational Skills:
Effective multitasking and impeccable organizational skills are essential for Navigator Nurses. You will need to handle several projects or clients simultaneously. Each entails tasks including coordinating schedules, developing unique treatment plans, keeping track of information, and educating patients. Developing your sense of order will therefore serve you well.
The ability to think critically:
To thrive in the role of Nurse Navigator, you must have excellent communication skills and be comfortable breaking down even the most intricate of processes. You must process massive volumes of information and make judgments based on hard evidence to serve the best interests of your patients. The ability to think critically will be crucial in achieving these objectives.
What is the job setting for a Nurse Navigator?
A nurse navigator can find work in any setting where patients could benefit from having an extra set of eyes and ears to help them navigate the healthcare system. Nurse navigator programs have been shown to be effective in oncology, neurological care, and cardiology.
These industries hire nurse navigators:
- Hospitals
- Psychiatric Institutions
- Health care systems
- Long-term care centers
- Centers for Rehabilitation and Recovery
- Hospitals with oncology and other specialized services
- Hospice care providers
- Healthcare organizations that visit patients in their homes
- Groups that advocate on behalf of patients
How does a Nurse Navigator differ from a Patient Navigator?
The terms nurse navigator and patient navigator are often used interchangeably. There is a great deal of cross-over between the positions, and many individuals use the terms interchangeably. On the other hand, a nurse navigator always works in the medical field. That means they always apply the knowledge, experience, and training they gained as nurses in their roles as navigators. A nurse navigator’s responsibilities and job description are universal across settings.
All nurse navigators have extensive experience in the field. The majority of patient navigators have a social work background. Different kinds of people become patient navigators. Their credentials and work history may differ greatly from one medical facility to the next. Patient navigator can mean either a social worker with a master’s degree or a healthcare provider with a high school education and on-the-job training, depending on the institution using the term.
Patient navigation is different at each health care facility because of the differences between facilities’ needs and resources. All patient navigators do the same job of putting patients in touch with the needed resources. Still, a social worker with the patient navigator job has a wider range of authority and responsibility.
What Does a Nurse Navigator Get Paid?
An excellent salary is offered to those who take up the Nurse Navigator profession. There is an average annual pay of $72,409 for RN Navigators, as reported by ZipRecruiter. The average salary for a Nurse Navigator is between $60,000 and $90,000.
The wide salary range for patient navigator nurses indicates multiple pathways to promotion and higher pay, depending on individual competence, geographic proximity to employers, academic credentials, and years of experience.
FAQ’s
What is a nurse navigator?
A nurse navigator is a healthcare professional who provides patients with guidance and support throughout their experience, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. Nurse navigators are responsible for connecting patients to the right healthcare resources and services, providing education and support, and helping to coordinate care.
What qualifications do I need to become a nurse navigator?
To become a nurse navigator, you must have a Registered Nurse (RN) license, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and at least two years of experience as an RN. Some employers may also require you to have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or other advanced nursing degrees.
How do I become a nurse navigator?
To become a nurse navigator, you must first become a Registered Nurse (RN). Once you have achieved your RN license, you can then pursue further education and training in areas related to the role of a nurse navigator, such as Patient Education, Patient Advocacy, and Health Information Technology.
What skills do I need to be successful as a nurse navigator?
To be successful as a nurse navigator, you must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, organizational skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the ability to multitask. You should also have a strong understanding of healthcare systems and services and the ability to provide patients with the right information and support.
