Nurse Navigator (Pink Ribbon Centre, Hospital Umum Sarawak)

Cancer Research Malaysia

JOB TITLE           : Nurse Navigator

LOCATION         :  Pink Ribbon Centre, Hospital Umum Sarawak

REPORTING TO :  Head/Deputy Head of Community Outreach

ABOUT THE UNIT

The Community Outreach Research Unit collaboratively develops intervention programmes to promote early detection and improve access to breast cancer care for women seeking treatment at Ministry of Health hospitals. The Community unit together with other research units in CRMY intends to close the gap in cancer care and our current focus is on breast cancer. The reality today is that who you are and where you live could mean the difference in cancer survival. It isn’t fair. But we can change this by developing the i) most effective healthcare system changes for improving survival and ii) innovative and cost-effective tools for enabling early detection of cancer in B40 communities.

SCOPE / PURPOSE OF JOB

The Nurses Navigator will be responsible for helping and supporting breast cancer patients and their families to navigate and access healthcare services. He/she will provide support along patient’s clinical pathway, service to address barriers to healthcare resources and will monitor the follow up care of the patients. The navigation team works within a clinical team of healthcare professionals at the hospital-based Patient Navigation Centres to ensure breast cancer patient complete their diagnostic and recommended treatment protocols.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Providing Patient Support - Be the focal point within the clinical team for patient navigation services for breast cancer patients. Assists patients in developing engagement plans, based on the results of the needs assessment. Provide motivation for patients, especially those who are discouraged or do not have the drive to achieve their recovery goals.
• Identify barriers - Complete comprehensive assessments of the barriers to quality cancer care that contribute to challenges and identify information, resource and emotional support needs of newly diagnosed and medically.
• Resource Identification and Utilization – Coordinating services with community navigator to assist patients with their basic needs, ensuring that they complete their diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner. This includes addressing financial, logistic and other barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment. Include advising on entitlements and helping with completion of application forms, referring patients to state/national agencies or voluntary organizations depending on the needs of the patient. Conducting/arrange home visits for i) welfare assessment, ii) patient or caregiver education, and iii) defaulter tracking.
• Run the full operation of PNP integrated breast clinic – Establish clinic operation flow, standard operating procedures, organize patient appointment system, defined navigator role and schedules, inpatient ward visit schedule and coordinate multidisciplinary team referral. 
• Monitor and maintaining patient tracking – Maintain an active day to day routine patient tracking activity and alert navigation team member if there is delay, or default among breast cancer patients as part of clinic operations. Organize inpatients visits to identify the changing needs among patients and their caregivers along their cancer journey. 
• Maintaining proper patient file documentation and data collection – Maintaining proper patient navigation file documentation and keep data collection up to date.

Must Have Competencies

The ideal candidate would be someone who:

1. Has updated and valid annual practicing nursing license or retention of name with Malaysian Nursing Board 
2. Preferably has hand-on experience handling breast cancer patients. Prior training in Palliative, Oncology and Surgical nursing is a strong advantage.
3. Ability to maintain a positive attitude towards assigned work, patients, team member and willing to work with other diverse stakeholders. 
4. Has great organization, administrative skill and time management.
5. Has cultural responsiveness and sensitivity, know the cultural make -up of the community /populations.
6. Has a positive attitude towards a wide and diverse range of patients, care givers and their family members.
7. Is adaptable to different demands, negotiate stressful situations and is able to analyse and resolve problems associated with patient barriers to continuity of care.
8. Effective listening skills and professional communication skills, both orally and in written form ie. Good letter writing skill.
9. Good Computer skills (Microsoft Office and Virtual meeting platform)
10. Fluent in communicating in local languages: Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, Local Sabah and Sarawak languages is a strength.
11. Academic qualifications: Diploma/bachelor degree in Nursing Science, added advantages if have Advanced Diploma in Oncology Nursing or Advanced Diploma in Palliative Care Nursing
12. Previous work experience of 1 - 2 years