Job Description

Position Summary

The Gastroenterology Nurse Navigator provides coordinated, patient-centered clinical support throughout the gastroenterology care journey. The Nurse Navigator serves as a central point of contact between patients, gastroenterology providers, nursing staff, primary care providers, diagnostic services, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team.

This position is focused on care coordination, patient education, clinical communication, referral and diagnostic follow-up, and removal of barriers to care. The Nurse Navigator does not provide hands-on assistance during endoscopic or other gastrointestinal procedures and is not responsible for performing procedural duties.

In an academic clinical environment, the Nurse Navigator also supports the department’s educational, quality improvement, research, and clinical mission as appropriate.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Patient Care Coordination

• Serve as a consistent point of contact for patients navigating gastroenterology services.
• Review referrals, clinical information, diagnostic results, and provider recommendations to facilitate appropriate follow-up.
• Coordinate the patient’s care plan across gastroenterology providers, primary care, specialty services, diagnostic departments, and other healthcare resources.
• Track patients through key points in their care pathway to promote timely completion of recommended evaluation and treatment.
• Identify barriers to care, including scheduling challenges, transportation, financial concerns, health literacy, or difficulty accessing services, and facilitate appropriate solutions.
• Assist patients in understanding their plan of care and the next steps in their treatment.
• Provide appropriate follow-up communication regarding provider recommendations, testing, referrals, and other clinical needs within established protocols.

Diagnostic and Clinical Follow-Up

• Monitor completion of ordered diagnostic testing, laboratory studies, imaging, referrals, and other recommended evaluations.
• Identify outstanding or overdue diagnostic studies and coordinate follow-up with patients and appropriate clinical staff.
• Communicate clinically significant results or concerns to the appropriate gastroenterology provider according to established protocols.
• Facilitate timely provider review and patient notification of results when appropriate.
• Assist with coordination of follow-up appointments based on provider recommendations and clinical urgency.
• Support management of defined patient populations, such as patients undergoing evaluation for gastrointestinal symptoms, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal malignancy, or other gastroenterology conditions.

Patient Education

• Provide individualized education regarding diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, diagnostic testing, preparation requirements, and follow-up recommendations.
• Reinforce education provided by gastroenterology providers and other members of the care team.
• Assess patient understanding and use teach-back techniques when appropriate.
• Provide approved educational materials and direct patients to appropriate institutional and community resources.
• Reinforce adherence to recommended follow-up and treatment plans.

Communication and Care Team Collaboration

• Maintain effective communication with gastroenterologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, medical assistants, schedulers, referral coordinators, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Communicate patient concerns and changes in clinical status to the appropriate provider.
• Participate in care conferences, huddles, case reviews, and other team activities as appropriate.
• Facilitate communication between patients and providers when additional clarification or clinical direction is needed.
• Promote continuity of care when patients transition between outpatient, inpatient, emergency, and other healthcare settings.

Academic and Clinical Mission

• Support the academic mission of the Department of Gastroenterology by assisting with student, resident, and fellow education related to care coordination and patient navigation, as appropriate.
• Participate in quality improvement, clinical research, population health, and other departmental initiatives when assigned.
• Assist with collection and tracking of clinical data for quality improvement, program evaluation, research, and academic purposes.
• Support evidence-based clinical practices and institutional standards of care.
• Participate in departmental meetings and educational activities.

Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

• Promote timely and appropriate follow-up of abnormal diagnostic results and other identified clinical concerns.
• Utilize established clinical protocols, standing orders, and escalation pathways within the scope of practice.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record.
• Protect patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and institutional privacy requirements.
• Follow applicable nursing standards, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in patient safety and quality improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve access, efficiency, patient experience, and continuity of gastroenterology care.

Scope of Practice

The Gastroenterology Nurse Navigator functions within the individual’s applicable nursing license and institutional scope-of-practice requirements.

This position is not a procedural nursing position. The Nurse Navigator will not routinely:

• Assist directly with endoscopic procedures.
• Provide hands-on procedural support in an endoscopy suite.
• Perform procedural sedation duties.
• Function as a procedure-room nurse or recovery nurse.
• Independently diagnose or prescribe treatment.
• Alter a patient’s treatment plan without appropriate provider direction.

Clinical decisions requiring provider assessment or intervention will be escalated to the appropriate gastroenterologist or advanced practice provider.

Qualifications

Required

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of West Virginia.
• Associate degree in Nursing required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• Demonstrated clinical nursing experience.
• Strong organizational, communication, and patient education skills.
• Ability to work independently while functioning effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records and standard office technology.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
• Gastroenterology, ambulatory care, care coordination, case management, oncology, or chronic disease management experience.
• ABCGN certification preferred.
• Experience in an academic medical center or teaching environment.
• Experience with patient navigation or population health initiatives.
• Familiarity with gastrointestinal diseases, diagnostic testing, and common gastroenterology treatment pathways.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of professional nursing principles and ambulatory patient care.
• Ability to recognize clinical concerns requiring provider escalation.
• Excellent patient communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to explain complex medical information in an understandable manner.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to manage multiple patients and care pathways simultaneously.
• Effective problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, trainees, and administrative staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to patient-centered care.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation and manage confidential information.
• Ability to adapt to changing clinical priorities and workflows.

Performance Expectations

Performance will be evaluated based on the Nurse Navigator’s ability to:

• Facilitate timely completion of recommended diagnostic testing and follow-up.
• Promote continuity and coordination of gastroenterology care.
• Effectively identify and escalate clinical concerns.
• Provide high-quality patient education and support.
• Reduce avoidable delays and barriers within the patient’s care pathway.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
• Demonstrate effective communication with patients and members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Contribute to quality improvement and academic initiatives.
• Support a positive patient experience.
• Consistently practice within professional, regulatory, and institutional standards.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

This position is primarily an ambulatory clinical and administrative role. The Nurse Navigator may spend extended periods sitting, standing, communicating by telephone, working at a computer, and interacting with patients and clinical staff. Occasional movement throughout the clinic may be required.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Responsibilities may be modified based on departmental needs, institutional priorities, and changes in clinical practice.

Internal applicants must call HR at ext. 11653 to determine eligibility before applying.