Nurse Navigator- Pediatric NeurosurgeryLocation:Duke Children's Hospital, 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Job Summary:We are seeking an
Nurse Navigator in our
Pediatric Neurosurgery clinic located in
Durham, NC to be an integral member of the healthcare team and provide direct and indirect care to patients.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:- Provide individualized navigation and support to pediatric and young adult patients, families, and caregivers across the full continuum of care, including diagnosis, pre-operative planning, surgery, discharge, and long-term follow-up.
- Serve as the primary clinical liaison for referring physicians, external providers, and out-of-state or international patients to ensure timely access, clear communication, and coordinated care.
- Conduct skilled, thorough nursing assessments; triage patient concerns and advice calls; and facilitate referrals to the appropriate level of care to support safe, effective clinical decision-making.
- Coordinate care through close collaboration with neurosurgeons, advanced practice providers, radiology, operating room teams, inpatient units, and ancillary services, with a strong focus on patients with complex, high-risk, or multidisciplinary needs.
- Support and enhance transitions of care through patient and family education, clinical advocacy, care coordination, and proactive follow-up, with the goal of improving adherence, safety, and patient satisfaction.
- Identify and proactively address psychosocial stressors, logistical barriers, and system challenges that may impact access to care, treatment adherence, or outcomes.
- Facilitate clear, compassionate communication between providers and patients/families, including education related to diagnoses, procedures, imaging, perioperative expectations, discharge instructions, and post-operative recovery.
- Provide comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative education, including coordination of follow-up appointments and post-discharge outreach to assess recovery and address concerns.
- Collaborate with the Neurosurgery Access Hub to assist with patient routing, intake review, and scheduling decisions to ensure patients are directed to the appropriate provider and care pathway.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with community providers, referring institutions, and internal stakeholders to promote efficient, high-quality care delivery.
Job Eligibility Requirements:- BSN required
- Specialty certification and/or MSN preferred.
- Three years of experience of specialty specific nursing in a hospital, clinic, or community setting.
- Minimum of 3 years relevant clinical nursing experience; neurosurgery, pediatrics, emergency care, critical care, or care coordination experience preferred
- Experience in nurse navigation preferred.
- Completion of national nurse navigation training preferred.
- Metric tracking skills
- Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina.
- BLS required.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
