Renal Nurse Navigator

Job Description

Overview

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Overview:

The Renal Nurse Navigator works as a key member of the nephrology team serving as point person, consistent

contact for, and coordinator of multidisciplinary clinical care delivery to achieve exceptional patient /family-centered

care and clinical outcomes for an identified population of renal failure patients, especially for those receiving

peritoneal dialysis. The Renal Nurse Navigator partners with other members of the team to identify the caseload of

patients who can best benefit from navigation services, and to build and execute a customized plan of care for each

of those patients. The Renal Nurse Navigator ensures patient preparedness for appointments, outpatient treatment ,

and treatment plans through education and psychosocial support, while also facilitating interaction between patients

and their attending and referring physician(s) as appropriate. The Renal Nurse Navigator ensures patient safety and

quality of care and contributes to quality driven performance improvement initiatives. The Renal Nurse Navigator

assists the clinical and leadership team with program development, expansion and successful achievement of

programmatic goals.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

Responsibilities

1. Navigating the patient and family across care settings according to the established patient care plan and clinical

pathways.

2. Ensuring that the patient and family have appropriate information, understand and have the capacity and tools to

adhere to the therapeutic plan.

3. Bridging patient and family care among and between various disciplines, services, and points of care

encountered by the patient/family.

4. Optimizing patient for treatment protocols according to guidelines and best practices.

Responsibilities

1. Clinical Practice: Patient and Family Assessment

1.1 Collects patient data for new patients using established assessment guidelines prior to initial visit to assess

patient and family current and projected future needs.

2. Clinical Practice: Patient and Family Education

2.1 Develops a patient and family education plan based on assessment findings relevant to teaching learning topics ,

styles, and the identification of special needs and preferences.

3. Clinical Practice: Care Coordination and Patient and Family Referral

3.1 Interfaces with interdisciplinary team members to ensure appropriate scheduling of laboratory and diagnostic

studies, procedures, and therapeutic interventions.

4. Clinical Program Support

4.1 Collaborates with other team members to develop and implement clinical tools, protocols and guidelines relevant

to new patient access and navigation; evaluates tool effectiveness and reports to team.

5. Patient Experience

5.1 Supports the Yale Nephrology team(s) in ensuring that Patient Experience standards reflect the YNHHS

Mission, Vision, Values.

5.2 Upholds the Standards of Professional Behavior

6. Professional Development

6.1 Advocates for the professional nurse as a key member of the inter-professional team.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required; Master's Degree in Nursing or Healthcare preferred.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of 2 years experience with patients suffering with renal disease(s), hemodialysis patients, and/or

peritoneal dialysis patients in a combination of the following is preferred: inpatient or outpatient care areas, clinical

process improvement, outcomes management, case management, and physician relations.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

Candidate must be comfortable working in a fast paced, complex academic medical environment where the Renal

Nurse Navigator is a key member of the multidisciplinary team. Must possess understanding of scope of practice ,

clinical care delivery procedures, organizational dynamics, and process improvement processes. Must be

self-motivated, goal oriented, and able to work independently. Must have the ability to develop relationships and work

collaboratively and effectively in partnership with patients, families, physicians, clinical staff, hospital departments

and outside organizations. Must have excellent assessment, communication and organizational skills with the ability

to manage and follow through on multiple priorities. Excellent critical thinking, analysis and assessment skills for

successful process improvement planning and monitoring. Proficiency in data management is ideal.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

Willingness to obtain Certification in Nephrology Nursing within 2 years (CNN) through the American Nephrology

Nurses Association.

Additional Information

2-3 years nursing experience with renal patient population, specifically peritoneal dialysis preferred. BSN required.