What Do Orthopaedic Nurse Navigators Do? A Role Delineation Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Care

Background:

• Patient navigation and care coordination are crucial for integrated, patient-centered care.
• The National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses identified a need to clarify the orthopaedic nurse navigator role.
• A knowledge gap exists regarding the specific expertise and duties of orthopaedic nurse navigators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the essential knowledge areas and core tasks for orthopaedic nurse navigators.
• To inform the development of educational resources and curricula for orthopaedic nurse navigators.
• To guide the creation of accurate and comprehensive orthopaedic nurse navigator position descriptions.

Main Methods:

• A survey was developed, tested, and distributed to individuals identifying as orthopaedic nurse navigators.
• Data from 93 participants were analyzed to identify common knowledge and tasks.
• Participant qualifications, including certification and educational background, were assessed.

Main Results:

• Full-time orthopaedic nurse navigators are typically orthopaedic certified, baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses.
• Respondents overwhelmingly identified eight key knowledge areas required for the role.
• A comprehensive list of 35 core tasks performed by orthopaedic nurse navigators was established.

Conclusions:

• The identified knowledge areas and tasks provide a foundation for orthopaedic nurse navigator education.
• Standardizing educational content will enhance the effectiveness of nurse navigators.
• Clearly defined roles and responsibilities are essential for optimizing patient care coordination.