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Web site spotlight: Nurse navigator leads patients through breast cancer battle

Nurse Leader Weekly, December 8, 2008

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From diagnosis through recovery, breast cancer patients at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, CO, have someone to guide them through every stage of their battle.

These patients can call on "nurse navigator" Melinda McAndrews, RN, BSN, OCN, for both educational and emotional support. The new role, funded by a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, started in June and her support is being offered to patients free of charge.

"This is my dream job," says McAndrews, who worked as an oncology nurse for nearly 13 years, but notes a difference between the two positions. "This is more independently-directed. It's all the stuff I got into nursing for."

McAndrews says she meets preoperatively and postoperatively with every breast cancer patient in the facility, and calls them after every appointment to ensure they understand the education provided to them. If they don't, she helps find resources to meet their needs. This can be anything from providing a translator for a Spanish-speaking patient, to conducting Internet searches for older patients who aren't tech savvy, to sending pamphlets on eating tips through the mail.

"If you arm patients with the knowledge so that they are not afraid, they can make the best choices," says McAndrews.

Editor's note: This excerpt was adapted from the article, "'Nurse navigator' leads patients through breast cancer battle" featured in The Reading Room on HCPro's  online resource center, www.StrategiesforNurseManagers.com. Get a free trial membership that will give you 30 days to test drive all the exciting features on the Web site.

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