Description:

The Breast Health Navigator functions on the multidisciplinary team as a compassionate caregiver, advocate, educator, and counselor for the breast health patient. The Navigator is a registered nurse who is responsible for providing competent, high quality, evidence-based nursing care for patients and families in the Breast Health Program and imaging s department. The nurse functions as the point person in the department whose role as the main health educator is to work with diversified role groups and provider staff for the successful achievement of patient safety and excellence in the delivery of care for interventional and all breast imaging patients. The Breast Health Navigator undertakes key responsibilities for interventional procedures including the proper preparation of patients, pre-procedure assessment and patient instructions, facilitation of scheduling of patients, and post-procedure instructions and follow up of patients. The Navigator assumes administrative and program responsibilities related to the navigator role and coordinates key people and resources for the program including quality and accreditation related functions and actively participates in communications related to the breast health program and promotion of its services. The Breast Health Navigator seeks new knowledge toward the progression of professional development and serves as a clinical resource with expertise in breast health.

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, a subsidiary of Massachusetts General Hospital, is renowned as one of the largest acute care hospitals in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. At Wentworth-Douglass, we value people who contribute to patient-centered care that enhances community health; we recognize and reward those who share our values and transform our patients' lives. We invite you to explore opportunities, cultivate community wellness and professional growth.

The Breast Health Navigator functions on the multidisciplinary team as a compassionate caregiver, advocate, educator, and counselor for the breast health patient.

• Provides competent, compassionate nursing care based on scientific principles and the use of nursing process and a primary nursing model
• Participates in daily operational activities necessary for safe patient/staff environment
• Provides and maintains a therapeutic environment for patients and families
• Helps define standards of excellence for patient care; participates in improvement of patient care services in a cost-effective manner
• Utilizes resources efficiently to facilitate optimal patient care
• Collaborates with other nursing and non-nursing professionals in maintaining recognized standards
• Educates patients and families about diagnostics and related disease processes
• Develops and revises patient education programs and evaluates effectiveness of learning
• Identifies the physical, emotional impact of diagnostic tests that may be associated with abnormal findings

• Coordinates involvement of the patient, family and health team members in patient care, including patient/ family teaching and discharge planning

• Communicates the plan of care and other pertinent information to/from other health team members
• Directs patients and families to available community resources and support services

The Breast Health Navigator undertakes key responsibilities for interventional procedures\:

• Simplifies, directs, and streamlines the interventional process for the patient and the provider staff assuring a safe and expeditious patient experience while ensuring appropriate continuity of care
• Coordinates patient care, scheduling, assessment of patients pre and post-procedure
• Coordinates appointments, referrals and related scheduling for procedural patients. Communicates appropriately in a sensitive, informative and professional manner. Responds to all patient phone calls/inquiries in timely manner
• Initiates pre-procedural telephone contact and assessment, education and instruction about the procedure
• Reviews the patient medical record and assures that the appropriate H&P, meds and labs are documented
• Assists in biopsy procedures and in all breast MRI biopsy exams. Supports patient, radiologist and staff throughout the procedure process as necessary.
• Initiates and monitors patient IVs while patient is in the department
• Performs and complies with all Universal Protocol processes Practices WDH Safe Hand off processes from accepting and transporting patients from one area to another
• Provides post-procedure care and assessment such as holding patient breast pressure and ensuring any post procedural bleeding has terminated
• Conducts follow up communication and teaching with patients following a breast biopsy to ensure on-going clinical support, communication and safety while at home
• Coordinates any follow up communication and process for the outside interpretation of patient images.
• Consults with referring and attending physicians regarding appropriate lab work, medication, procedural instructions and follow up
• Maintains database of patient procedural follow up and presents quarterly at Breast Imaging Division meeting
• For patients not having immediate biopsy, the navigator provides education and support, contacts PCP to coordinate care and scheduling, provides pre-procedure instructions, obtains initial H&P, and discusses consent process
• Collaborates with the members of the Patient Care Team to achieve optimal patient outcomes

The Breast Health Navigator assumes administrative and program responsibilities related to the navigator role and coordinates key people and resources for the program\:

• Functions as a member of the Breast Imaging Health Care team, participating in Breast Imaging Division staff meetings and in operations staff meetings
• Provides input to the Division Head (Breast Health) and Operations Manager regarding unit needs
• Utilizes knowledge and industry standards and references to provide for evidence based, high quality, comprehensive and effective program
• Undertakes key role in promotion and growth of the program and services including internal, professional, and community education
• Initiates and completes pathology reporting/ Imaging Concordance process by providing addendums to radiologist reports which documents patient pathology results in the breast reporting system
• Documents follow up recommendation in the breast reporting system
• Performs monthly audit/QA process for ensuring completion of all pathology/ follow up
• Establishes specialty specific metrics and retains responsibility for data collection, measurement, analysis, reporting and performance improvement for the service.
• Assumes active role in meeting accreditation standards including ACR and NAPBC

The Breast Health Navigator actively participates in communications related to the breast health program and promotion of its services\:

• Articulates the role of the Breast Health Navigator to the patient, family and health team members
• Participates in unit and departmental committees for formulation of policies and procedures
• Participates on Center, hospital and professional committees

• Participates in the development of educational material, including brochures, instruction sheets and web information.
• Participates and promotes WDH Breast Cancer Awareness Month initiatives and other departmental breast wellness events.
• Works with marketing and outreach departments to educate referring physicians and others of available services

The Breast Health Navigator seeks new knowledge toward the progression of professional development and serves as a clinical resource with expertise in breast health\:

• Maintains and updates clinical knowledge and skills based on current nursing education practices, department requirements and personal needs and goals

• Teaches and provides direction to all nursing/non-nursing personnel to support clinical needs of Breast Imaging and enhance performance and knowledge levels of colleagues

Experience Minimum RequiredFive (5) years in nursing experienceEducation Minimum Required

RN with BSNEducation Preferred/DesiredMSNTraining Minimum Required

ARC or AHA BLSTraining Preferred/DesiredSpecific training for navigation or coordination of care for the surgical patients Knowledge of community resourcesSpecial Skills Minimum RequiredConveys a positive team approach based on strong ethical valuesIs highly motivated and self-directed with proven ability to function in autonomous, independent rolePossesses exceptional communication skills, compassionate and well respected by colleaguesIs patient focused, strong negotiator, detail oriented and flexibleCommitted to continued learning and professional growthLicensure and/or Certifications RequiredRegistered Nurse in the state of New Hampshire ARC or AHA BLS

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. · The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)