Oncology Nurse Navigator

About the Role

The Oncology Nurse Navigator (ONN) provides individualized guidance to patients, families, and caregivers, fostering independence throughout their cancer journey. Using the nursing process, the ONN assesses needs, provides education, and facilitates timely, quality health and psychosocial care across all phases of cancer. The ONN creates a patient-centered, compassionate environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Participates in day-to-day program operations, including patient education and call triage.
• Participates in program evaluation and strategic goal development.
• Participates in QA/QI projects for the program.
• Supports research activities of the program.
• Exhibits professional commitment through integrity, honesty, and accountability.
• Delivers expert clinical care through evidence-based practice.
• Assumes nursing care responsibilities for a defined patient group, including assessment, education, coordination, and documentation.
• Facilitates individualized care considering functional status, cultural considerations, health literacy, psychosocial, reproductive/fertility, and spiritual needs.
• Supports patient transitions into survivorship, chronic cancer management, or end-of-life care.
• Assists patients with treatment goals, advanced directives, palliative care, and end-of-life concerns using an ethical framework.
• Acts as a liaison between patients, families, caregivers, and providers to optimize outcomes.
• Advocates for patients to promote patient-centered care, shared decision-making, and patient goals of care.
• Provides psychosocial support and facilitates appropriate referrals.
• Contributes to ONN program and role development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Participates in tracking and monitoring metrics and outcomes.
• Functions as the primary nursing contact for care in the physician practice setting.
• Engages in collaborative decision-making.
• Manages patient care across the continuum, including new patient calls and appropriate referrals.
• Works collaboratively as an effective member of the health care team.
• Monitors the environment of care with attention to patient safety and regulatory compliance.
• Maintains clinical practice that is evidence-based and consistent with nursing policies and procedures.
• Provides care based on age-specific needs of the patient.
• Adheres to the Code of Ethics for Nurses.
• Complies with accepted standards of professional nursing practice and licensure/registration requirements.
• Fosters an environment sensitive to the needs of diverse populations.

Professional Development

• Identifies areas for professional growth.
• Formulates professional goals, objectives, and methods.
• Serves as a representative on Nursing and Institute committees.
• Supports research activities within Nursing and Patient Care Services.
• Meets all annual evaluation requirements and competencies.
• Collaborates in preparing professional reports, articles, and presentations.
• Pursues active membership in professional organizations.
• Commits to continuous learning, inquiry, innovation, and mentoring.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Associate Degree in Nursing (BSN strongly preferred). If ADN, must complete BSN within 4 years.
• Completion of the Oncology Nurse Residency Program (ONRP) OR 1 year of recent experience as a Registered Nurse.
• Ambulatory and/or oncology experience preferred.
• Licensed as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts or New Hampshire.
• AHA BLS required (AHA ACLS accepted).
• Professional nursing certification preferred (OCN, BMTCN, CPHON, AOCNP, CRNI, RN-BC).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work as an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated skills in critical thinking, effective communication, organizational skills, problem-solving, and ability to make appropriate independent decisions.
• Demonstrates understanding of special needs and behaviors of age groups served: young adults to geriatrics.