Job Abstract

The Coordinator/Navigator position is a Registered Nurse with recognized leadership abilities and sound clinical skills who will actively assist the physician in the day to day activities and care of the patient. This position helps to facilitate appointments with specialist and support services, provides patient and site-specific education and maintains appropriate communication with the medical, clinical and support staff as well as the patient and family. The position works with surgeons, oncologists, hospital departments, and out-patient services to facilitate scheduling of diagnostic and treatment procedures, physician appointments, as well as supportive care. This position will maintain, develop, and coordinate multidisciplinary prospective treatment conferences, whether as a complement to a clinic or a standalone collaborative forum. Demonstrates proficiency in delivering care to patients and participates in related continuing education. Executes leadership in the following areas: Direct/Indirect Patient Care, Support of Systems, Research, Education, and Professional Leadership. He/she works collaboratively with the nursing staff, medical staff, educators, managers, and all members of the health care team to accomplish the responsibilities outlined below.

The cancer coordinator/navigator is a professional Registered Nurse with oncology specific clinical knowledge who a) participates in the care of patients with a past, current, or potential diagnosis of cancer; b) provides individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to help overcome healthcare system barriers; c) provides education and resources to facilitate informed decision making about diagnostic and treatment options and d) provide patients with coping strategies to equip them with problem-solving skills to deal with disease and treatment stress The nurse navigator screens new patients referred to the Oncology services to ensure patients are directed to the correct services and to select patients who would benefit from navigation T Using the nursing process, the Nurse Navigator assesses patient needs, develops a plan of care including coordinating with interdisciplinary service providers. The Nurse Navigator provides education and resources to facilitate informed decision making and timely access to quality health and psychosocial care throughout all phases of the cancer continuum. The Nurse Navigator supports the Oncology services by collecting data for preparation of cases for tumor board review and collecting data and preparing reports for regulatory and operational purposes He/she works collaboratively with the nursing staff, medical staff, educators, managers, and all members of the health care team to accomplish best patient care practices.

Essential Duties:

• Provides Education: Expert oncology knowledge base Proficient in the business of healthcare including insurance coverage, authorization procedures Knowledge of community resources Develops Education plan; educates; delegates reinforcement to other team members as appropriate to scope of practice (e.g. LVN, MA, PCT)
• Coordinates Care: Demonstrates strong assessment skills for clinical conditions and barriers to care Ability to formulate a plan of care with the patient that includes the patient’s goals and objectives Demonstrates strong organizational skills Manages complex systems Prioritizes and re-prioritizes as patient care requires Coordinates services according to patient needs including clinical care and community resources Participates in clinic visits (including ensuring all documentation; reports; images, etc are available for appointment; prepares chart) Reviews all medications and conducts medication reconciliation
• Effective Communication: Demonstrates excellent listening skills Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills Proficient with presentation skills
• Navigation Case Finding: Screens new patients referred to the appropriate multidisciplinary cancer program; Contacts all new referrals within 24 hours to assess purpose of visit and to ensure expected services have been addressed Follow up on results for tumor board; follow up communication with patient and/or referring physician Selects patients to navigate based on the following criteria: Newly diagnosed Complex profile - other chronic diseases complicating the case - other social factors complicating the case - patient or team member request for navigation Administers Distress Screening Views, follows and evaluates laboratory results.
• Care Transitions Assists with care transitions (e.g. pre-diagnosis to diagnosis; acute phase to recovery phase; consideration of clinical trials; recovery phase to self-care/survivorship; transition to end-of-life; etc.) Develops and provides Treatment Summary and Survivorship Care Plan
• Program Data Management Collects data to measure program metrics Creates reports on program performance based on agreed upon metrics
• Professional Role: Develops collaborative interpersonal relationships with patients and significant others; service providers; community partners Demonstrates professional demeanor and tact Effectively works with teams Effectively works autonomously Applies strong critical thinking skills in assessment and planning Demonstrates compassion, empathy, sensitivity to diversity
• Community Outreach Participates in community outreach events to motivate individual and community to positively change health behaviors to promote cancer detection and prevention.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Req Bachelor's degree Nursing
• Req 2 years Two years clinical experience required.
• Req Must have excellent communication skills, including the ability to speak, read and write English proficiently.
• Req Knowledge of medical procedures and conditions and ability to understand, follow and successfully perform duties, including whole blood collection, and apheresis procedures, in accordance with administrative and clinical policies, regulations and procedures.
• Req Proficient with computers, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pref Master's degree In nursing field. (completed or in process)
• Pref 2 years Two years’ experience as Nurse Navigator or Oncology preferred

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req Registered Nurse - RN (CA DCA)
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)
• Req Chemotherapy Certification Chemotherapy and Biotherapy provider card within 6 months from hire. (*Employees hired prior to October 2022 will need to obtain within 6 months)

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu.  Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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