2c. Benefits of a Nurse Navigator
In healthcare, cancer treatment provides the unique challenge of coordinating a large team of providers, tests, treatments, medications, and appointments. Traditionally, healthcare systems are set up to operate efficiently while treating illness within individual departments. A cancer patient can see many different cancer experts from diagnosis through recovery. Without a nurse navigator, cancer patients may experience roadblocks to treatment such as:
Lack of communication between cancer care team members, such as a primary physician and medical oncologist
Multiple medical appointments scheduled on separate days
Difficulty understanding options for treatment or testing results
Uncertainty of which provider to call with questions, or being directed to call a different provider for information
With a nurse navigator, a patient has a central point of contact for their treatment and an ongoing source of support. The nurse navigator assists patients by connecting them with healthcare team members when needed, answering questions related to their treatment plan, and helping them understand new information.