Oncology Nurse Navigator

UNC Health; Raleigh; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Job summary

UNC Health in Chapel Hill, NC is seeking an experienced RN Oncology Nurse Navigator for Thoracic/Head and Neck Oncology. The role blends remote and in-person duties within a hybrid schedule, guiding patients through diagnosis to survivorship with dedicated support from the cancer team.

Qualifications include RN licensure in NC, 2 years nursing experience with 1 year oncology-related, BLS, and oncology certification (OCN/ONN) within 3 years. BSN preferred; Epic experience helpful.

Qualifications

• Two years of nursing experience and one year related experience.
• BSN preferred; ADN with BSN path allowed and timeline.
• Licensed RN in North Carolina; BLS certification; oncology focus credentials preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care across the cancer care continuum and facilitate timely access to services.
• Educate patients and families; guide through diagnoses, treatment, survivorship or end of life.
• Schedule tests, labs, imaging; coordinate referrals and appointments.
• Serve as liaison among patients, families, and care teams.

Skills

Oncology nursing experience

RN licensure

Strong communication

Care coordination

Documentation & charting

Education

BSN preferred

ADN with BSN path allowed

Tools

Epic

Job description

RN- Oncology Nurse Navigator for Thoracic/Head and Neck Oncology

We are seeking a responsible, self-motivated individual to join our UNC Cancer team as a Nurse Navigator! In this role, you will be a vital member of the patient’s interdisciplinary team guiding them through their cancer care journey.

Position Detail

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid schedule consisting of a combination of remote and in-person responsibilities.

Seeking

An experienced RN is needed to facilitate the treatment plan and help the oncology patient transition from the inpatient setting to the outpatient setting, as well as diagnosis through treatment to survivorship or end of life.

Essential Functions

• An oncology nurse navigator (ONN) is a professional Registered Nurse with oncology-specific clinical knowledge who offers individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers as a guide through the healthcare system.
• The navigator provides education and resources to facilitate informed decision making and timely access to quality health and psychosocial care throughout all phases of the cancer continuum.
• In addition to facilitating timely complex coordination of appointments, diagnostic testing and procedures, the navigator is responsible for identifying potential and realized challenges with care and facilitating referrals as appropriate to mitigate barriers and expedite the plan of care.
• The ONN assesses patients’ current health practices, identifies health problems, determines the degree of compliance and problems complying with the prescribed treatment plan, and provides appropriate documentation.
• By analyzing data from patient interviews, chart reviews, and physical assessments, the ONN helps to determine individualized nursing care needs including direct care and referral for additional departments/physicians for new and ongoing management.

Skills/Qualifications

Navigators must be compassionate while possessing excellent verbal and written communication, strong organizational/prioritization skills as well as the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively with healthcare teams. Basic working knowledge of managed care, insurance coverage, procedures, and community resources is preferred, but can be learned. Prior Epic experience is helpful, but not required. Preference will be given to applicants with at least 5 years of Oncology Nursing experience.

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well‑being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Summary

Each patient has an assigned nurse navigator to oversee their diagnosis and treatment, help them get their needs met, and serve as their personal resource. The specific purpose of the nurse navigator is 1) to expedite and facilitate access to initial and ongoing care in our system, 2) to personalize the care our patients receive, 3) to provide a single gateway for our patients to minimize confusion over communication and 4) to provide a consistent contact for our patients from diagnosis to survivorship. The nurse navigator is patient-oriented, not physician or division specific, and will facilitate care of the patient and family across the many disciplines and professionals required for their care. The nurse navigator acts as the liaison for the patient and family addressing their concerns and questions, and works with program assistants to arrange their various appointments with their providers.

Responsibilities

• Communication - Nurse Navigators will ensure that there is continuity of communication between a patient's various care providers (both within and outside the UNCHCS community).
• Nurse Navigator Continuing Education
• Patient Care Duties Interviews patients regarding their current health practices, identifies health problems, determines the degree of compliance and problems complying with the prescribed treatment plan, and documents this information in the patient's chart. Analyzes data from patient interviews, chart reviews, and physical assessments to determine patient's nursing care needs including direct care, referral to other departments. Additional duties related to coordinating patient care specifically for the cancer patient. Coordinates scheduling of tests labs, x-rays coordinates consults. Interacts with referring physician's offices for new and ongoing patient care issues.
• Programmatic Leadership

Other information:

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) from a state-accredited school of professional nursing.
• In lieu of bachelor’s degree, candidate may possess ADN but will be required to enroll in a BSN program within 4 years, and obtained BSN within 7 years.

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina.
• OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse) or ONN (Oncology Nurse Navigator) Certification required or must be obtained with 3 years of hire date. Until certification requirements are met, candidate must complete required hours of oncology related annual training as specified by accreditation standards.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification

Professional Experience Requirements

• Two (2) years of nursing experience and one (1) year related experience.

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE
Entity: UNC Medical Center
Organization Unit: Oncology Navigators
Work Type: Full Time
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
Salary Range: $35.87 - $51.57 per hour (Hiring Range)
Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity
Work Assignment Type: Hybrid
Work Schedule: Day Job
Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill
Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes
This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.
Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.
UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email [e-mail] if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.