Nurse Navigator - Stroke Population - Full Time Days

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Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

About the Role:

Job Summary

The Stroke Nurse Navigator is a Registered Nurse who supports patient-centered stroke navigation and stroke-related clinical research across the continuum of care. In partnership with a multidisciplinary team across the system of care, this role ensures continuity from acute hospitalization through post-discharge recovery. The position collaborates with physicians, data analysts, the Research Department, and the Neuroscience Leadership Team to optimize patient throughput and improve clinical outcomes. Using advanced clinical judgment, specialized stroke expertise, and independent decision-making, the Stroke Nurse Navigator will coordinate clinical research studies and quality initiatives, including data collection, validation, and analysis. The Nurse Navigator supports stroke accreditation standards, enhances staff, patient and caregiver education, and advances evidence-based stroke care through research and performance improvement. Assists with professional nursing shared governance and other projects as assigned. Assists in the advancement of the professional practice environment by communicating the NGMC nursing strategic direction and focusing on activities that support the nursing strategic direction.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications: Licensed to practice as a RN in Georgia. Professional organization membership within one month of hire into the role.

• Educational Requirements: Bachelor's Degree

• Minimum Experience: Five (5) years of patient care experience

• Other: A degree in Nursing (either BSN or MSN)

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:

• Preferred Educational Requirements: A Master's Degree (Nursing or other if possessing a BSN) within five years of hire.

• Preferred Experience: Stroke care and/or case management experience

• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational and critical thinking skills, ability to problem-solve and prioritize tasks with minimal supervision.

• Exhibits strong independent working skills while collaborating effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Strong nursing skills with extensive nursing knowledge and ability to safely triage patient concerns and make appropriate recommendations or escalate appropriately for the stroke patient population.

• Stroke Clinical Knowledge: Acute stroke pathway awareness (stroke alerts, imaging flow, treatment decision points). Stroke subtype knowledge (AIS/ICH/SAH/TIA) + common complications/readmission drivers. Functional recovery frameworks (mRS concepts, dysphagia, cognition/aphasia). Secondary prevention meds & adherence barriers. Stroke-specific education expectations (BE FAST, recurrence warning signs, teach-back). Stroke-specific education expectations (BE FAST, recurrence warning signs, teach-back).

• Care Continuum Navigation & Community Resource Expertise

• Accreditation, Registry & Performance Measure Knowledge

• Research Regulatory & Study Operations Knowledge

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, a collaborative nature, and a positive presence. Skilled in health-literacy appropriate communication (teach-back, plain language, culturally sensitive education, group dynamics, and caregiver engagement).

• Analytical ability necessary to plan and coordinate the stroke continuum to ensure its effectiveness

• Research study start-up, data integrity, and maintenance skills (regulatory binders, delegation logs, training documentaiton, source documentation expectations, and audit readiness).

• Strong proficiency navigating the EMR.

• Ability to use program tolls for tracking and follow up (spreadsheets/dashboards, task lists, and standardized templates/scripts for calls and education).

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Collaboration and professional communication with the multidisciplinary stroke team to provide seamless care to the patient throughout the continuum of care.

• Escalates complex clinical, regulatory, and research issues appropriately to leadership and investigators.

• Coordinates stroke care and research activities across inpatient, discharge, and post-discharge settings to ensure continuity and risk reduction. This may involve travel to various treatment sites to assist with care or research coordination.

• Educates and collaborates with neurology staff, research team, rehab partners, physicians, and the community as well as patients and their caregivers regarding services, care needs, and research study participation.

• Using Evidenced-Based Practice, implements chronic care management plan to assure optimal recovery and quality of life outcomes.

• Assists patient/family in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options and resources available.

• As requested, coordination and delivery of stroke education, including group education and support groups, and creating education materials for staff, patients, and care givers, utilizing best practice standards, in consensus with national guidelines.

• Functions as an expert Clinician and mentor for staff related to stroke and research, contributing subject-matter expertise to process improvement initiatives impacting patient outcomes.

• Assists with tracking outcomes, data collection, audits, and reporting to support strategic and performance improvement initiatives.

• Facilitates and supports research coordination activities for Neuroscience Service Line, including patient identification, screens patients for study eligibility and facilitates informed consent in compliance with IRB and regulatory requirements.

• As assigned, manage study initiation, execution, documentation, study completion, regulatory binders, source documentation, and research data entry, ensuring compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), HIPAA, and institutional research policies.

• Support patient visits, audits, and regulatory reporting activities as appropriate. Attend SOP, IRB, ICH, and FDA training sessions as requested. Participate in multidisciplinary stroke committees, research meetings, and quality forums.

• Performs other related job duties or functions as requested or assigned.

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 50 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Weight Carried: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Vision: Moderate, Frequently 31-65% of time

• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Occasionally 0-30%

• Standing/Walking: Occasionally 0-30%

• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally 0-30%

• Intensity of Work: Occasionally 0-30%

• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding, Driving

Working at NGHS means being part of something special: a team invested in you as a person, an employee, and in helping you reach your goals.

NGHS: Opportunities start here.

Northeast Georgia Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.