A Nurse Navigator is a registered nurse with clinical expertise who helps patients and their families deal with the demands of the complicated healthcare system. They serve as an advocate for the patient, as well as the liaison between the patient and providers. They are often called the “anchor” of a patient’s medical team.
Responsibilities of a Nurse Navigator include:
- Being the single point-of-contact for the patient and the providers.
- Advocating for patients’ needs to ensure they receive the best possible care.
- Providing patients with information about diagnosis, treatment options, and recovery process.
- Guiding patients through the system, including different departments, procedures, and specialists.
- Scheduling appointments, getting referrals, and coordinating care among the providers.
- Explaining medications, treatments, side effects, and follow-up care instructions.
- Tackling barriers to treatment, such as language, transportation, childcare, or cultural needs.
- Connecting patients with local resources and support services.
- Locating appropriate clinical trials for further treatment options.
- Offering emotional support, answering questions, and addressing concerns.
From diagnosis, all the way through treatment, into recovery and even beyond, a Nurse Navigator stays with patients and their families.
What are the benefits of having a Nurse Navigator?
With a Nurse Navigator at your side, you have a trusted colleague who knows your medical history and needs. From start to finish of your journey, they can explain everything in a way you’ll understand and make sure you’re comfortable being an active participant in your treatment. They’re glad to do the “heavy lifting” regarding coordinating care and working through unexpected situations. They are expert communicators and problem solvers.
Proven benefits of having a Nurse Navigator include:
- Better adherence to your treatment plan
- Fewer hospital admissions and re-admissions
- Greater confidence in managing your disease or condition
- Preparation for appointments with knowledge
- Relief of stress and anxiety for you and your family
How did Nurse navigators begin?
The first Patient Navigators worked in oncology units in Harlem, New York. Dr. Harold Freeman launched the first program in 1990, after noting that Black women with low economic status were diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer only 6% of the time. Their five-year survival rate was 39%. (In comparison, White women had a five-year survival rate of about 86%.)
Dr. Freeman hired Patient Navigators to guide his patients through appropriate diagnosis and treatment. The results were astounding: When 325 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, 41% of them had stage 0 or 1, with a five-year survival rate of 70%. Having a one-to-one individualized relationship with a Patient Navigator was the single factor in improving outcomes.
Patient Navigators (often non-medical staff, such as social workers) continue today to assist patients and their families with issues related to smoothing logistics, coordinating care, seeking financial aid, and eliminating barriers that prevent excellent medical treatment.
Nurse Navigators are a logical step beyond Patient Navigators. With years of specific experience, their medical knowledge can help their patients understand treatment options, make informed decisions, avoid complications, and ultimately have better prognoses.
Where do Nurse Navigators work?
You’ll find Nurse Navigators in hospitals, clinics, oncology centers, and healthcare systems. They may also work in outpatient and community centers. With modern technology, the nurses can work remotely, providing telemedicine visits for rural patients, as well as patients who are unable to easily travel to appointments.
Navigation programs for cancer have been in place since Dr. Freeman’s success; since 2012, they have been a Standard of Care requirement for accredited cancer treatment centers. Nurse Navigators are also employed to assist patients and their families with other serious medical conditions, including:
- Chronic diseases
- Cardiology
- Obstetrics
- Orthopedics
- Major surgical procedures
- Any complex diagnosis
When you consider all the professionals who are involved in a patient’s care, a Nurse Navigator becomes essential. Medical team members can include a primary care physician, oncologist, hematologist, radiologist, palliative care physician, pharmacist, rehabilitation therapist, dietician, genetic counselor, social worker, and mental health professional.
How can You find a Nurse navigator
If you or a family member receive a serious diagnosis, or are affected by a complicated chronic condition, ask your primary care provider for information. You can also call your hospital or cancer care center; many have a Nurse Navigator program in place. Members of patient support groups or organizations may also have recommendations.
Sources:
American Cancer Society, National Navigation Roundtable. History of Patient Navigation. Undated website page. Accessed 23 March 2025.
Androus A, Beyond the Bedside: Nurse Navigator. RegisteredNursing.org. Updated 15 February 2025. Accessed online 23 March 2025.
Bonavitacola J. Rule Change for Patient Navigation Billing Is a Boon to Oncology Care Practice, Leaders Say. American Journal of Managed Care. Volume 30, Issue 2. 16 February 2024. Accessed online 23 March 2025.
Bostelman C, Parent T. The Role of the Nurse Navigator in Facilitating Molecular Testing via a Reference Laboratory in NSCLC. Journal of Oncology Navigation Survivorship, Volume 15, Number 4. April 2024. Accessed online 23 March 2025.
Byrne A, Heney D, et al. Exploring the nurse navigator role: A thematic analysis. Journal of Nursing Management, Volume 28, Issue 4, May 2020. Accessed online 22 March 2025.
Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, National Cancer Institute, 2022. Accessed online 24 March 2025.
Freeman H, Rodriguez R. The History and Principles of Patient Navigation, Cancer, Volume 117, Issue 15, August 2011. Accessed online 23 March 2025.
Oh J, Ahn, S. Effects of Nurse Navigators During the Transition from Cancer Screening to the First Treatment Phase: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Asian Nursing Research, Volume 15, Issue 5, December 2021. Accessed online 22 March 2025.
Prisma Health. How does a nurse navigator help after a cancer diagnosis? 30 August 2022. Accessed online 22 March 2025.