Nurses are recognized for their pivotal roles as trusted advocates who ensure quality patient care and services and are usually the first point of contact for most patients. These caregivers are found in healthcare settings, caring for the vulnerable in clinics and hospitals and embodying compassion through caregiving. They perform some of the most challenging and heartbreaking tasks in the medical world. As workers who perform the most essential healthcare tasks, nurses serve as the first point of contact for most patients. Their contributions and sacrifices remind us to thank these medical professionals from May 6 to May 12. What a time to honor, recognize, and appreciate nurses for all they do.
According to Incredible Heath, there are six levels of nursing, which are dictated by a combination of advanced degrees, nursing licenses, experience, and the type of nursing work being performed. If you have experienced significant surgery or had cancer, you will know the invaluable roles of the Oncology/Nurse Navigator.
What is Nurse Navigation?
Oncology nurse navigators, sometimes called “ONNs,” are professional registered nurses with oncology-specific clinical knowledge who offer individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to help overcome healthcare system barriers. They are knowledgeable about breast diseases and well-versed in explaining the advantages and disadvantages of various treatments. They also provide educational material so the patient can make the right choices.
Whether educating patients, setting up follow-up appointments, connecting with doctors for questions, or just meeting with patients to see how they’re doing, the nurse navigator is an instrumental part of the cancer care team. Nurse navigators may also be care coordinators, case managers, or patient advocates. They help meet patients’ needs throughout treatment, including educating them, coordinating care across departments, and liaising between patients and other caregivers.
Nurse navigators are becoming an increasingly important part of the patient care process because they help prevent patients from being readmitted to the hospital and diminish visits to the emergency room; using their skill to circumvent barriers in the healthcare system with educational and supportive resources, advocate by helping communicate care needs to medical professionals and generally assist with understanding their treatments and next steps. Patients and their families:
• feel supported and heard
• understand options
• manage/understand their treatment plan
• find supportive resources
Support in Managing Treatments and Appointments
A breast cancer navigator can help schedule and coordinate appointments with various healthcare specialists and other healthcare professionals. This can also ensure patients get answers to all questions and concerns. In addition, a breast cancer navigator can help you manage side effects and secure extra support during treatments. Their primary responsibilities are to:
• support you during treatments
• answer questions
• provide education about breast health
• Provide education about the disease, treatments, and available services and resources
• providing emotional support
• helping with financial and insurance-related issues
• emotional support services such as support groups and peer-to-peer connections
• treatment-related support services such as resources for side effect management and nutrition help
• integrative and complementary treatment resources such as acupuncture and natural supplements
Multiplicity of Skills
Navigator nurses are versatile and valuable to potential patients needing their assistance. Their quality of skills are:
Therapeutic Communication
The respectful and compassionate nature of therapeutic nursing communication encourages patients to be candid about their physical, mental, and emotional needs and allows nurses to provide the best care possible.
Open-mindedness
A nurse navigator must be ready to learn and accept people’s values and belief systems, primarily when they differ from their own. Open discussion with patients, listening to your patient’s wishes, respecting their lifestyle and culture, and liaising between their needs and medical requirements.
Empathy
Nurse Navigators work with a fragile population whose diagnoses have disrupted their lives. Therefore, compassion and empathy help them navigate these life-altering health events.
Organizational skills
Navigator Nurses must be multitasking experts in multiple tasks or cases simultaneously. Each implies scheduling appointments, creating individualized care plans, recording data, and providing support and education.
Critical thinking skills
Nurse Navigators must be able to explain the most complex procedures clearly, analyze large amounts of data, and make evidence-based decisions that best align with the patient’s interests.
Summary
Nurse navigators assist patients throughout all stages of their care, beginning with the diagnosis. Part of their job is to ensure that patients understand the suggested course of physician-recommended treatment. They can explain side effects and answer questions you and your family may have. A nurse navigator is attentive to educational, emotional, and social needs like a caregiver.
REFERENCES
DMC (Detroit Medical Center)
Healthline
Incredible Health
NexNurse
Nightingale College
Oncology Nursing News
