Stroke Patient Navigator

Halifax Health is seeking a Stroke Patient Navigator for the Stroke Program/Quality Department.

The Stroke Navigator serves as a liaison for our stroke/CVA patients and helps to guide them and their families/caregivers through the continuum of care from the time stroke alert/diagnosis through treatment and throughout discharge and post discharge.  The Stroke Navigator coordinates all services required to provide multi-disciplinary, quality care, and cost-effective care to stroke patients.  Assumes responsibility and accountability for the management of resources through interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve optimal patient outcomes.  The Stroke navigator serves as a resource to patients, physicians, staff, while serving in the role of educator, quality improvement, Ambassador.  The Stroke navigator advocates on the behalf of the stroke patients and their families/caregivers.  Leverages best-practices and evidence based guidelines for optimal results. This position works in conjunction with the Stroke Program Manager and the Stroke coordinator. The stroke navigator provides patient education related to their illness and planned treatments.

• Bachelors of Science degree
• Current Valid RN, State of Florida Required
• Masters of Science degree Preferred
• Critical Care/Emergency Department experience preferred
• Minimum of 3-years’ experience in nursing
• Current valid BLS, ACLS Required
• NIHSS (must obtain within 90-days of hire)
• Neuroscience Specialty certification preferred (CNRN, SCRN)

• Develops, plans, and implements evidence-based measures that increases the quality of care for the stroke/TIA patients

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory guidelines

• Self-directed and able to organize and manage multiple task/projects simultaneously

• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication

• Navigates a diagnosed stroke/TIA patient from the diagnostic phase through the treatment phase, ensuring appropriate/timely medical/support services. This includes responding to all STROKE ALERTS and transfers from other facilities for IR treatment, TPA, and/or neurosurgery to aid in patient navigation

• Partner with multidisciplinary team to develop and implement and up-to-date plan of care

• Develops program-specific policies/procedures/protocols per best practices

• Provide emotional support and counseling related to the clinical situation

• Communicates with all members of the healthcare team on behalf of the patient

• Determine and anticipates post-acute patient needs, including services such as home health support, DME (durable medical equipment), social services to maximize care continuum

• Acts as a liaison to the staff and physicians

• Complete “Transition of care” follow-up phone calls to all stroke patients within 7-days to several months to assess clinical progress, evaluate their understanding of their condition. Enter the follow up modified Rankin scale (MRS) information into the Get with the guides (GWTG) official site.

• Verify follow-up appointments are calendared and set; encourage healthy behaviors and medication adherence

• Analyze GWTG and other data relevant to evaluate stroke program performance on and on-going basis

• Educates the patients/families/caregivers on stroke diagnosis, treatment that will occur in the hospital, and what occurs after discharge

• Actively participates in Neuroscience/stroke committee meetings; co-chairs neuroscience meetings along with the Stroke Program Manager and Stroke coordinator

• Performs assessment of patient needs, available resources, precipitating factors and educational opportunities.

• Identify barriers for care i.e. lack of insurance, finances, support, language support as applicable.

• Assist with the Stroke support groups and facilitation for the community

• Knowledge of community resources and support

• Collect, assess, and monitor data to evaluate and report on trends and for benchmarking

• Proficient in building interpersonal relationships and team-building strategies

• Attend nursing units staff meetings as needed

• Provide Stroke health education and community outreach through educational classes and speaking engagements

• Assess and review the patient’s medical records for stroke follow-up and education

• Performs all other duties as assigned by the management within job specifications and licensure

Recognized as one of the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™ in the United States by IBM Watson Health™, Halifax Health serves Volusia and Flagler counties, providing a continuum of health care services through a network of organizations including a tertiary hospital, two community hospitals, urgent care clinics, psychiatric services, a cancer treatment center with five outreach locations, the area’s largest hospice, a center for inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, primary care walk-in clinics, a clinic specializing in women’s health, a pediatric care community clinic, five pediatric medical practices, a home health care agency and an exclusive provider organization. Halifax Health offers the area’s only Level II Trauma Center, Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC), Center for Transplant Services, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Services, complete Neurosurgical Services, OB Emergency Department and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for babies born earlier than 28 weeks. For more information, visit halifaxhealth.org.