Nurse Navigators - Champions of the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework: A solution.

INTRODUCTION: Nurse Navigators were introduced in Queensland, Australia, in 2016. Nurse Navigators coordinate person-centred care, create partnerships, improve care coordination and outcomes and facilitate system improvement, independently of hospital or community models. They navigate across all aspects of hospital and social services, liaising, negotiating and connecting care as needed. People stay with Nurse Navigators for as long as required, though the intent is to transition them from high-care needs to self-management. Nurse Navigators are a working model in rural and remote areas of Queensland. OBJECTIVE: To describe where the rural and remote Nurse Navigator position fits within the Rural Remote Nursing Generalist Framework and to define the depth and breadth of the rural and remote Nurse Navigator's scope of practice. DESIGN: Using template analysis, data from focus groups and interviews were analysed against the domains of the recently released National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework. Navigators working in rural and remote areas across Queensland Health were invited to an interview (n = 4) or focus group (n = 9), conducted between October 2019 and August 2020. FINDINGS: Rural and remote Nurse Navigators are proficient in all domains of the framework and actively champion for their patients, carers and the communities where they live and work. DISCUSSION: This research demonstrates that rural and remote Nurse Navigators are a working model of advanced nursing practice, acting as 'champions' of The Framework. CONCLUSION: The Nurse Navigator model of care introduced to Queensland exemplifies proficient registered nurse practice to the full extent of their knowledge and skill.

Change agents in the oncology workforce: Let's be clear about community health workers and patient navigators.

Despite efforts of professional organizations and government agencies to solidify the professional identities of community health workers and patient navigators in the oncology workforce, the scientific literature perpetuates wide variation in the nomenclature used to define these natural change agents, who have proven efficacy in improving access to quality cancer care for historically marginalized populations. To disseminate, sustain, and scale-up these life-saving roles in cancer care, the oncology field must come together now to adopt clear and consistent job titles and occupational identities.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; exchange and insurance market standards for 2015 and beyond. Final rule.

This final rule addresses various requirements applicable to health insurance issuers, Affordable Insurance Exchanges (``Exchanges''), Navigators, non-Navigator assistance personnel, and other entities under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act). Specifically, the rule establishes standards related to product discontinuation and renewal, quality reporting, non-discrimination standards, minimum certification standards and responsibilities of qualified health plan (QHP) issuers, the Small Business Health Options Program, and enforcement remedies in Federally-facilitated Exchanges. It also finalizes: A modification of HHS's allocation of reinsurance collections if those collections do not meet our projections; certain changes to allowable administrative expenses in the risk corridors calculation; modifications to the way we calculate the annual limit on cost sharing so that we round this parameter down to the nearest $50 increment; an approach to index the required contribution used to determine eligibility for an exemption from the shared responsibility payment under section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code; grounds for imposing civil money penalties on persons who provide false or fraudulent information to the Exchange and on persons who improperly use or disclose information; updated standards for the consumer assistance programs; standards related to the opt-out provisions for self-funded, non-Federal governmental plans and related to the individual market provisions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 including excepted benefits; standards regarding how enrollees may request access to non-formulary drugs under exigent circumstances; amendments to Exchange appeals standards and coverage enrollment and termination standards; and time-limited adjustments to the standards relating to the medical loss ratio (MLR) program. The majority of the provisions in this rule are being finalized as proposed.

Oncology Nurse Navigation in Underserved Communities: Opportunities and Future Directions.

OBJECTIVES: Provide an overview of navigation in three disparate populations: rural, Native American/Alaska Native, and low- to middle-income countries. Discuss gaps in care and opportunities to improve cancer care. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and on Google Scholar using search terms, nurse navigation, cancer, disparit*, low- to middle-income countries, Native American, American Indian, and rural. Peer-reviewed research studies, review articles, databases and websites of professional organizations, and historical books were reviewed to provide an overview of oncology nurse navigation in underserved communities. Experiences in working with these populations over the past 30 years were also provided to support current literature. RESULTS: Forty references were included in this overview of nurse navigation in underserved communities. Nurse navigation in these disparate areas is in its infancy. While some programs exist and outcomes have been positive, their dissemination is sparse. A need exists to expand nurse navigation into these areas to provide care for these underserved communities. CONCLUSION: Oncology nursing navigation for each of these underserved communities requires a culturally sensitive approach. Many of these approaches are universal to cultural competency and can be applied to most disparate populations. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses comprise the largest workforce around the globe and are well-equipped to develop navigation programs in some of the most disparate communities around the world. To do so, it is important to use a foundation of building trust, embracing individual differences, providing culturally sensitive education and resources for growth, and good communication.

Navigating Through Disaster: Application of Oncology Nurse Navigator Competencies to Climate Disaster Preparation and Response.

OBJECTIVES: The role of the oncology nurse navigator (ONN) before, during, and after a climate disaster is critical to ensuring that individuals with cancer continue to receive the necessary care and support. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the essential role of the ONN by highlighting the application of core competencies to climate disasters. METHODS: Competencies available for ONNs from the Oncology Nursing Society include coordination of care, communication, education, professional role, and expertise. International Council of Nurses (ICN) core competencies for disaster nursing include eight domains: preparation and planning, communication, incident management systems, safety and security, assessment, intervention, recovery, and law and ethics. These competencies are explored for application to climate disaster preparation, mitigation, and response. RESULTS: The ONN competencies and the domains of the ICN disaster nursing competencies were integrated to outline the role of the ONN in disaster preparedness and response. CONCLUSION: The ONN is pivotal in maintaining the continuity of cancer care. The ONN's expertise is critical for navigating the difficulties presented by hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other extreme climate events as well as existing barriers to cancer care. The ONN's adeptness at coordinating care, communicating effectively, and tapping into community resources will transfer to a climate disaster, ensuring minimal treatment interruptions and access to necessary care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The ONN is integral to the cancer care team in preparing and responding to climate disasters. The ONN ensures ongoing access to cancer care and advocates for the specialized care that people with cancer need. The ONS ONN Core Competencies and the ICN Disaster Competencies are applicable for developing processes and procedures to address climate disasters in clinical practice.

Defining the Role and Responsibilities of the Oral Anticancer Medication Nurse Navigator.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this article is to define the role and responsibilities of the oral anticancer medication nurse navigator. METHODS: This article combines findings from a review of scientific literature including research studies, quality improvement projects, case studies, standards, and guidelines combined with the experience and professional insights of the authors in the role creation and function of the oral anticancer medication nurse navigator. RESULTS: The role of the oral anticancer medication nurse navigator includes coordination of patient care, pre-treatment assessment of barriers to adherence, patient and caregiver education, planned follow-up and coaching, and symptom management. Professionally, the role includes the development of interdisciplinary workflows, coordination of care with internal and external stakeholders, clinical staff education, the application of technology, and advocacy. CONCLUSION: The oral anticancer medication nurse navigator uses the nursing process to coordinate care of the individual taking these medications. The role optimizes patient outcomes and benefits the healthcare organization through reduced healthcare costs and the ability to meet accreditation needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The role of the oral anticancer medication nurse navigator provides value to patients taking oral anticancer medications and to the healthcare team.

Benefícios do programa de navegação de pacientes e assistência de enfermagem em oncologia: revisão integrativa / Beneficios del programa de atención de enfermería de navegación y oncología del paciente: revisión integrativa / Benefits of the patient navigation and oncology nursing care program: integrative review

Objetivo: analisar pesquisas que adotaram como objeto os benefícios do programa navegação de pacientes e a assistência de enfermagem. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa utilizando a estratégia PICO (Paciente, Intervenção, Comparação e Desfecho). Bases de dados selecionadas: LILACS, Medline, IBECS, BDENF e SCIELO, entre 2015 e 2020. Descritores de busca: Enfermagem; Navegação de pacientes; Oncologia; Assistência. Resultados: Foram analisados 11 artigos, nos quais pode-se verificar que os benefícios relativos à inserção do programa de navegação de pacientes e da enfermagem dentro dos serviços de oncologia foram: reestruturação de ambos buscando a padronização e diretrizes; agilidade no tratamento; além do empoderamento da família/cliente no seguimento dos processos/tratamentos. Conclusões: No Brasil, há poucos estudos relacionados a implementação do programa de navegação a da assistência em enfermagem na oncologia. Porém, a literatura existente trouxe como promissores os benefícios ao cliente/família e à instituição, além da agilidade nos processos inerentes ao tratamento(AU)

Objective: to analyze research that adopted the benefits of the patient navigation program and nursing care as their object. Method: This is an integrative review using the PICO strategy (Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome). Selected databases: LILACS, Medline, IBECS, BDENF and SCIELO, between 2015 and 2020. Search descriptors: Nursing; Patient navigation; Oncology; Assistance. Results: 11 articles were analyzed, in which it can be verified that the benefits related to the insertion of the navigation program for patients and nursing within the oncology services were: restructuring of both seeking standardization and guidelines; agility in treatment; in addition to the empowerment of the family/client in following the processes/treatments. Conclusions: In Brazil, there are few studies related to the implementation of the navigation program and nursing care in oncology. However, the existing literature brought as promising benefits to the client/family and the institution, in addition to the agility in the processes inherent to the treatment(AU)

Objetivo: analizar las investigaciones que adoptaron como objeto los beneficios del programa de navegación del paciente y los cuidados de enfermería. Método: Se trata de una revisión integradora que utiliza la estrategia PICO (Paciente, Intervención, Comparación y Resultado). Bases de datos seleccionadas: LILACS, Medline, IBECS, BDENF y SCIELO, entre 2015 y 2020. Descriptores de búsqueda: Enfermería; Navegación del paciente; Oncología; Asistencia. Resultados: Se analizaron 11 artículos, en los cuales se puede constatar que los beneficios relacionados con la inserción del programa de navegación para pacientes y enfermería dentro de los servicios de oncología fueron: reestructuración de ambos buscando estandarización y lineamientos; agilidad en el tratamiento; además del empoderamiento de la familia / cliente en el seguimiento de los procesos / tratamientos. Conclusiones: En Brasil, existen pocos estudios relacionados con la implementación del programa de navegación y cuidados de enfermería en oncología. Sin embargo, la literatura existente trajo como beneficios prometedores para el cliente / familia y la institución, además de la agilidad en los procesos inherentes al tratamiento.(AU)