Nurse Navigator- Pediatrics- Neurosurgery

Duke University Health System; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke University Health System in Durham, NC is seeking a Nurse Navigator for the Pediatric Neurosurgery clinic. The Nurse Navigator will provide direct and indirect care, coordinate complex care plans, and ensure seamless patient transitions. Candidates must have a BSN, current RN licensure in North Carolina, and relevant nursing experience.

The role emphasizes compassionate patient navigation, collaboration with healthcare teams, and support for families. Join Duke in making a difference in the lives of patients and their families.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in specialty specific nursing in a hospital, clinic, or community setting.
• Experience in nurse navigation preferred.
• Must have BLS certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized navigation and support to patients and their families.
• Serve as the primary clinical liaison for referring physicians.
• Conduct nursing assessments and facilitate referrals.
• Coordinate care with various healthcare teams.
• Support transitions of care and improve patient satisfaction.

Education

BSN

Specialty certification and/or MSN preferred

Current or compact RN licensure in North Carolina

Job description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community.

Duke Health Integrated Practice

Duke Health Integrated Practice comprises more than 110 primary and specialty outpatient clinics, extending the reach of the Duke Health mission across the state of North Carolina.

Location

Duke Children's Hospital, 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705

Job Summary

We are seeking a Nurse Navigator in our Pediatric Neurosurgery clinic located in Durham, NC to be an integral member of the healthcare team and provide direct and indirect care to patients.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide individualized navigation and support to pediatric and young adult patients, families, and caregivers across the full continuum of care, including diagnosis, pre-operative planning, surgery, discharge, and long‑term follow‑up.
• Serve as the primary clinical liaison for referring physicians, external providers, and out‑of‑state or international patients to ensure timely access, clear communication, and coordinated care.
• Conduct skilled, thorough nursing assessments; triage patient concerns and advice calls; and facilitate referrals to the appropriate level of care to support safe, effective clinical decision‑making.
• Coordinate care through close collaboration with neurosurgeons, advanced practice providers, radiology, operating room teams, inpatient units, and ancillary services, with a strong focus on patients with complex, high‑risk, or multidisciplinary needs.
• Support and enhance transitions of care through patient and family education, clinical advocacy, care coordination, and proactive follow‑up, with the goal of improving adherence, safety, and patient satisfaction.
• Identify and proactively address psychosocial stressors, logistical barriers, and system challenges that may impact access to care, treatment adherence, or outcomes.
• Facilitate clear, compassionate communication between providers and patients/families, including education related to diagnoses, procedures, imaging, perioperative expectations, discharge instructions, and post‑operative recovery.
• Provide comprehensive pre‑operative and post‑operative education, including coordination of follow‑up appointments and post‑discharge outreach to assess recovery and address concerns.
• Collaborate with the Neurosurgery Access Hub to assist with patient routing, intake review, and scheduling decisions to ensure patients are directed to the appropriate provider and care pathway.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with community providers, referring institutions, and internal stakeholders to promote efficient, high‑quality care delivery.

Job Eligibility Requirements

• BSN required
• Specialty certification and/or MSN preferred.
• Three years of experience of specialty specific nursing in a hospital, clinic, or community setting.
• Minimum of 3 years relevant clinical nursing experience; neurosurgery, pediatrics, emergency care, critical care, or care coordination experience preferred.
• Experience in nurse navigation preferred.
• Completion of national nurse navigation training preferred.
• Metric tracking skills
• Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina.
• BLS required.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.