Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Committee Chair
Sharon Starr
Abstract
Patient navigation as a care coordination model continues to evolve. Early programs focused on access to care for the underserved and uninsured. With no standard credentials, title, training or job descriptions, navigator programs are as varied as the people who perform these duties. The nurse navigator provides a holistic approach to care delivery and focuses on care coordination, education, and physical, social and emotional aspects of care. Workload for the navigators is increasing as a result of patient, facility, departmental, and national accreditation demands. The goal of this capstone project was to redefine the job descriptions of the Oncology Nurse Navigators working in a community cancer center and to measure the impact on job satisfaction. Using Lewin's Theory of Planned Change, the navigator job descriptions were redefined, while improving overall nurse satisfaction. Four domains of satisfaction as identified by the Satisfaction in Nursing Scale (SINS) were measured. Intrinsic rewards and administrative support increased while collegiality remained unchanged. Workload barriers increased. The results suggested that inclusion of navigators in job re-definition promotes employee satisfaction even if workload demands increase. Intrinsic factors and meaningful work were important to the navigators. Redefining the navigator role helped to meet the growing work demands and assisted with clarification of the role to other health team members.
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Citation Information
Smith, JoAnn, "Patient Navigator's Role Definition" (2014). Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects. 37.
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/nursing_etd/37