Registered Nurse (RN) - Nurse Navigator
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, PA

Nurse Navigator (Palliative Care)

UPMC Palliative & Supportive Institute is hiring a full-time Nurse Navigator (RN) to join their team. In this position, you will work Monday-Friday during daylight hours assisting with navigating outpatient options for patients/families/providers seeking palliative care services. You will help coordinate transitions to outpatient care for patients following inpatient palliative consultation, support the telepalliative outpatient program by completeing patient calls, prescription refills, prior authorizations, and appointment scheduling. Additionally, you will review palliative care orders in EPIC and ensure the appropriate clinic is contacted to schedule patient appointment along with assisting with quality improvement and data review of outpatient services. Purpose: To function as a key member of the palliative care team, providing expert care to streamline access to palliative care and enhance care coordination with focus on the patient experience. Functions as an advocate for the patient and their loved ones and acts as a liaison for services and resources with emphasis on inpatient to outpatient transitions, access to outpatient palliative options, and the telepalliative program. Responsibilities: * Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team in guiding the patient and their loved ones in regard to palliative care options. Provides emotional support specialized patient care and educational needs. Assumes the role of care coordinator and patient advocate throughout the process. * Coordinates transitions to outpatient care for patients following inpatient palliative consultation including connection with patients via phone, ensuring appointment scheduling is completed, and providing resources or support as needed. * Supports the telepalliative outpatient program and other palliative clinics as needed through clinical support by triaging patient calls, assisting with medication refills, prior authorizations, and other aspects to ensure streamlined and efficient patient experiences. * Participates in outpatient focused work groups and meetings to improve patient workflows and experience. * Uses all components of the nursing process, to provide comprehensive nursing care, support and education to patients and their families during serious illness. * Provides expert knowledge related to palliative care to health care professionals and patients/families. * Possesses the ability to obtain and interpret information considering various needs. Provides patient care while cognizant of age, developmental status, culture, ethnicity, and sexual orientation to individual patients and members of the community. * Participates in the evaluation of patient care and programs through quality improvement activities. Identifies and coordinates performance improvement activities, including monitoring, evaluation, and development of appropriate outcomes; participates in processes to implement change. * Integrates current research findings and technology into practice, performance improvement, and education as appropriate. * Assesses and addresses the educational & resource needs of individual patients, their loved ones, and members of the community as a whole, in regard to health issues with an emphasis on palliative care. Participates in the evaluation and development of patient education materials and provides individualized teaching based on needs of the patients and the community. * Demonstrates UPMC's commitment to service excellence by understanding the needs of patients, their families, physicians and co-workers and doing what is required the first time, every time by being responsible, sensitive, accurate, timely, coordinated and thorough. Qualifications: * RN with Bachelor's Degree preferred. * Three to five years of current clinical experience required. * Preferred experience with the population served (i.e. women's health, breast health, oncology, etc.) * Must be self-directed and possess strong leadership and communication skills. * Demonstrated knowledge and clinical competence in the area of specialty with an emphasis on wellness and disease prevention throughout the life continuum. * Demonstrates ability for high degree of analysis, critical thinking and independent clinical judgment. Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances: Registered Nurse currently licensed in the practicing state. Current certification in specialty or obtained within one year CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire * Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) * Registered Nurse (RN) * Act 34 * Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state. UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran