After receiving a cancer diagnosis, everything feels unpredictable. That’s when a cancer nurse navigator can help. These specially trained nurses guide you through every step of treatment and recovery, offering a compassionate hand to hold onto during this challenging time.
“Patients with cancer are more than a medical diagnosis,” says Kim Wade, RN, BSN, OCN, oncology-certified nurse with Beaufort Memorial. “They’re all individuals and deserve personalized attention and care. That’s what cancer nurse navigators provide.”
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What Does a Cancer Care Navigator Do?
A cancer nurse navigator can help you manage the physical, emotional and financial stress of a cancer diagnosis. These specially trained nurses guide you through every step of the treatment process, recovery and beyond. They coordinate appointments, educate patients about a cancer diagnosis and related treatments, and create a plan for survivorship once treatment ends. With a diverse knowledge of treatment options and available support systems, cancer nurse navigators understand each patient’s needs are different. A good navigator can pinpoint your or your loved one’s biggest challenges after a diagnosis, whether it’s a language barrier, transportation issue or complex treatment plan.
A nurse navigator also serves as your first point of contact after a patient is diagnosed with cancer. They will connect you to doctors at the hospital and those outside the cancer center, such as your primary care provider. Your nurse navigator will communicate with you about contact options and be easy to reach, helping you navigate your options, eliminate barriers and be there throughout the process.
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Cancer Care is a Team Effort
Beaufort Memorial offers monthly support groups for cancer patients and educational opportunities. Cancer treatment is a team effort, including input from you, your loved ones and the cancer care team.
Your nurse navigators are a part of your care team, and integral to ensuring that communication about every facet of your cancer treatment plan is explained to you thoroughly. From your initial consultations with your nurse navigator, you should understand more about your diagnosis, treatment options and what to expect.
Patient care goes beyond providers’ offices and healthcare facilities, and patient outcomes are better when multidisciplinary teams — including nurse navigators — are part of the cancer journey. With facilities in Beaufort and Okatie, you don’t have to travel far from home for exceptional cancer care. We offer care options specific to your diagnosis and tailor your treatment plan to your needs and preferences.
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Types of Cancer Care Navigators
In addition to general cancer nurse navigators, at Beaufort Memorial, we have specialized types of cancer care navigators and support staff, including:
- Breast oncology nurse navigators do all the same things as oncology nurse navigators, but are trained in and dedicated to assisting breast cancer patients.
- Oncology financial navigators provide financial and medical bill counseling to help you manage the financial aspects of your care. They can also help you find community resources for household expenses, programs to assist with the cost of treatment and help you apply for financial assistance programs if needed.
- Oncology research nurses connect you with clinical trials that offer new forms of treatment. They can educate you about your trial options and explain the qualifications, risks and benefits.
- Oncology social workers help you work through challenges during your journey. They provide counseling sessions to manage stress, anxiety, fears, family dynamics and other emotional components of cancer, and facilitate monthly support groups to connect you with others affected by cancer. Oncology social workers can help arrange transportation to and from appointments, coordinate care with your medical team to complete medical leave paperwork, and connect you to financial resources and other valuable community services.
“Nurse navigators are here to help patients and their families focus on overcoming cancer,” Wade says. “Our goal is to manage the finer details of care to minimize their stress. Nurse navigators can also arrange care more quickly, and when patients receive the care they need sooner, they may have better results from treatment.”
Meet our team of cancer nurse navigators and find a cancer care specialist for yourself or a loved one.
