At Houston Methodist, the Nurse Navigator position is responsible for serving as an expert population-specific clinician, patient/client advocate and assisting population-specific patients/families to navigate the complex healthcare system in an organized, effective and efficient manner. This position will assist with the standardization and efficiency of care for patients in the service line throughout the continuum of patient care. The Nurse Navigator position models patient-centered care and assumes leadership responsibilities with high level contributions in direct patient interaction, the department, the service line, and across the institution. Responsibilities for this position may include, but are not limited to, leading survivorship activities, participating in nursing initiatives such as Pathway to Excellence/Magnet, assessing service line needs related to practice and improvement opportunities, coordinating program education and serving as a clinical resource for both program and hospital staff.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Develops strong relationships with physicians, their office staff, and healthcare providers to ensure effective communication in patient care. Serves as a liaison between ancillary departments, clinical specialists, physicians and patients to ensure efficient patient flow for service line patients. Serves as a clinical resource for complex and/or highly specialized patient care situations to patient care providers and other health care professionals within the hospital and in the community, as appropriate.
Builds and maintains relationships with community organizations, interprofessional departments and outside medical service agencies to help coordinate support services for patients. Partners with the Business Development staff to coordinate relationships with external/referring physicians for the program, as appropriate.
Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Coordinates all aspects of patient care and development related to the service line. Facilitates entry of patients into the program and assists with coordination of care through personalized interaction. Follows the population-specific patient throughout the postoperative phase of care, continuum of care and/or into survivorship, as applicable. Advocates for patients and caregivers in preventing/resolving clinical or ethical issues, develops supportive department/unit practices and guidelines.
Educates the patient and caregiver on disease-specific guidelines and surgical and non-surgical treatment options to enable patient-led treatment decisions.
Develops/updates informational/educational resources and programs related to program services and/or plan of care in partnership with the patient and caregiver; mentors others regarding specialty populations; audits plan of care.
Teaches nursing care principles with advanced technical knowledge and provides formal education to groups outside the department as needed. Educates and/or facilitates patient and caregiver on introduction to program, clinical trial information, resource referrals, and genetic counseling as appropriate.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Fosters successful outcomes, survivorship by developing treatment summary, providing education to patient and caregiver on follow-up schedule and communication to healthcare team. Assists with maintaining follow up schedule and addresses acute complications, late and long-term effects through continual needs assessments.
Implements risk assessments and monitors healthcare pathways with interprofessional teams, intervening when necessary to improve timeliness of care. Actively participates in a wide range of performance improvement and shared governance activities by identifying, recommending and leading improvements in patient safety-related processes at unit or service line level. Ensures appropriate data is collected and submitted to appropriate databases for service lines supported.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Participates in decisions impacting operational and capital needs. Contributes to oversight of grant funding for community outreach initiatives as appropriate.
Makes referrals to financial navigators/business office financial counselors to assist patients needing financial support.
Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Participates in identifying needs, planning and implementing educational programs within the service line for hospital health care providers, patients, families and/or community groups. Develops, facilitates and participates with others in the development and presentation of health care provider and community educational programs in the service line.
Maintains personal professional development through organization membership. Reads and leads critique of evidence-based practice literature in nursing and related disciplines. Publishes evidence-based research findings and/or presents findings at a national meeting. Attends/participates in continuing education activities to ensure current knowledge in the practicing specialty.
Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited school of Nursing
Master's degree preferred
WORK EXPERIENCE
Three years clinical nursing experience
Leadership or Coordinator experience preferred
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED
RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure -- Compact Licensure - Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency) AND
BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) AND
Magnet ANCC-recognized certification (HM) or Oncology Nursing Society recognized certification
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED
Magnet - ANCC Recognized Certification (ANCC) -- Case Management related OR
Health Services\ACM - Accredited Case Manager (NBCM)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
Demonstrates highly developed assessment, clinical, documentation, and analytical skills
Strong psychosocial assessment and clinical skills
Possesses knowledge of health care financial and payer issues, and eligibility for state, local and federal programs.
Embodies the behaviors associated with the Leadership, Art and Science of Nursing (identified in Duties and Responsibilities) at the Proficient level according to Benner's model of clinical practice
Displays professionalism, remains composed under stress, and takes responsibility for delivering on personal and organizational commitments
Able to work independently; possesses organization/time management and prioritization skills
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
Uniform No
Scrubs Yes
Business professional Yes
Other (department approved) No
ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
On Call* Yes
TRAVEL**
Travel specifications may vary by department
May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital opened in June 2017 as the eighth hospital in the Houston Methodist system. This 267-bed, 725,000-square-foot, full-service, acute-care hospital offers many of the same services as our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Also, on the beautiful hospital campus, located at the intersection of Interstate 45 and Texas State Highway 242, are two medical office buildings, which include a Breast Care Center; Cancer Center; infusion center; heart and vascular services; neurology; orthopedics and sports medicine; rehabilitation services; wellness services; an outpatient laboratory; and several other multispecialty physician practices. In January 2022, Houston Methodist The Woodlands opened Healing Tower - a $250 million expansion project that added 106 beds, focused on medical-surgical and women's services, and provided nine operating rooms. The project also included the expansion of the endoscopy center, emergency department and diagnostic imaging department with an enhanced neurodiagnostic and interventional center.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
