What a Nurse Navigator Does

Navigators often schedule scans, biopsies and consultations so they happen in a sensible order. They can explain what a test involves, how to prepare and what the results might mean for next steps. If you leave an appointment confused about instructions, a navigator can walk through them again by phone. They also help when a referral has not been sent, a prior authorization is holding things up or a record has gone missing. Some navigators focus on thoracic cancers, which can be especially helpful for pleural mesothelioma. Ask what their role covers at your center, because duties vary from place to place.

Not every patient is assigned a navigator automatically. Ask the front desk or your oncologist's nurse whether the cancer center has a nurse navigator or patient navigator program. Larger cancer centers commonly do, and many community hospitals have at least one navigator for cancer patients. If your center does not, a social worker or the oncologist's nurse may fill a similar role. Some cancer advocacy organizations also offer navigation by phone. Once you have a name, save the direct number and ask the best way to reach them, whether that is a call, a portal message or email.

A navigator can only help with what they know about. Tell them early if you have trouble with transportation, insurance, childcare or understanding medical terms. Keep a short list of questions between visits and send them in one message rather than several scattered calls. Let them know if you are seeing doctors at another hospital so they can help coordinate records. If you are also exploring a legal claim or benefits, they may not handle those directly, but they can often connect you with a social worker who knows local resources.

1. 1

   Ask your cancer center this week whether a nurse or patient navigator can be assigned to you.

2. 2

   Save the navigator's direct number and preferred contact method in your phone and on your records folder.

3. 3

   Tell your navigator about any transportation, insurance or scheduling problems as soon as they come up.

4. 4

   Send batched questions between visits instead of waiting until your next appointment to ask them.