Nurse Navigators play a crucial role in the cancer care continuum, offering comprehensive support to patients from diagnosis through to survivorship. Their multifaceted responsibilities are designed to alleviate the stress and complexities associated with cancer treatment and ensure a cohesive care experience. Currently we have Nurse Navigators for newly diagnosed Breast, Prostate cancers, and our Clinical Nurses (nurses who collaborate directly with each physician) are here to assist you with other cancer or blood disease diagnosis.
Nurse Navigators & Clinical Nurses may assist you by:
Facilitating Understanding and Communication:
- Clarifying Clinical Information: Nurses collaborate with patients and their care teams to ensure that complex medical information, including diagnoses and treatment options, are communicated clearly. They help patients understand the implications of their clinical data and treatment choices, breaking down medical jargon into more comprehensible terms.
- Educational Support: They provide tailored education regarding the cancer diagnosis, treatment plans, and potential side effects. This education helps patients make informed decisions about their care.
- Providing Emotional Care: Recognizing the emotional toll that a cancer diagnosis can have, Nurses offer emotional support to both patients and their families. They address fears, anxieties, and concerns, helping patients navigate the emotional challenges of their cancer journey. They offer a balanced perspective on the benefits and risks associated with different treatment choices, helping patients weigh their options.
- Timely Access to Care: Nurses ensure that patients have prompt access to necessary healthcare providers, including surgeons, oncologists, and other specialists. They work to facilitate timely appointments and manage referrals to oncology support services, genetic counseling, and other relevant resources.
- Streamlining Processes: They coordinate and streamline the process for imaging, testing, fiducial markers, and procedures, helping to manage the logistics of multiple appointments and reducing delays in care.
- Resource Referral: Our nurses connect patients with a wide range of supportive services, including psycho-social support, nutrition counseling, financial assistance, physical therapy, spiritual care, language translation services, and fertility specialists. This holistic approach ensures that patients have access to all necessary resources to support their overall well-being.
- Maintaining Ongoing Dialogue: Throughout the cancer journey, nurses function as a consistent point of contact. They facilitate communication between patients and their multidisciplinary care teams, ensuring that all aspects of care are well-coordinated, and that patients’ needs are addressed in a timely manner.
How the Nurse Navigation Process Works:
- Initial Appointment Coordination: The goal is to schedule an appointment within two weeks of a suspicious finding. During this time, Nurse Navigators gather pertinent clinical data, such as scans and pathology reports, to review with the multi-disciplinary team, which may include surgeons, urologists, pathologists, radiologists, and medical/radiation oncologists.
- Ongoing Support: Nurse Navigators maintain an ongoing dialogue with patients, ensuring continuous support and effective communication among the patient’s healthcare providers. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance patient satisfaction and improve health outcomes by providing timely support and guidance throughout the cancer care journey.