| dc.description.abstract | Cancer is a major concern in today’s health care field, especially in Canadian adults. The diagnostic phase is a clinical process that involves mapping the patient journey, identifying and prioritizing the symptoms, and corresponding the symptoms with relevant treatment. Oncology nurse navigators are professional nurses who educate and advocate for, and navigate the cancer patient throughout his/her entire cancer treatment. Although nurse navigation is recognized by many provinces as a key element of an integrated system of cancer care, it is not yet delivered in a standardized way across Canada. The significance of this study is that it will contribute to evidence that if a connection is found between positive patient experience and the role of nurse navigators, this will allow for a more standardized delivery of nurse navigator programs across Canada. The phenomenological study of the role of oncology nurse navigators within the diagnostic phase was undertaken to understand the impact it had on patient experience, particularly lung cancer patients. Carried out in one of Ontario’s largest cancer centres, Durham Regional Cancer Centre (DRCC) at Lakeridge Health, this study involved interviewing four patients and a focus group with four nurse navigators who were employed at DRCC. A newly designed Bi-Dimensional Framework (Fillion et al., 2012), which focuses on continuity of care and patient empowerment, was used to guide conceptualization of the study, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Through the use of thematic analysis, transcripts were analyzed. The resulting interpretation of the role of the nurse navigators on patient experience is that of patient-focused cancer care; conduct needs assessment, care planning, shared decision-making; easily accessible, identify and eliminate barriers; patient advocate, educational support; personalized symptom management education; and resource navigation. Together these themes identify core areas of practice which can be used as a foundation to develop and maintain the skills to practice in the oncology field, in order to develop the nurse navigator’s role to its full potential. | en |
