GENERAL SUMMARY:
The Nurse Navigator – Total Joint Replacement is responsible for coordinating
the preoperative process for patients scheduled to undergo total joint
replacement surgery. Working collaboratively with patients, providers, surgery
schedulers, anesthesia personnel, and the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), the
Nurse Navigator facilitates timely review of medical records, completion of
required preoperative testing, and confirmation that patients meet established
requirements for outpatient surgery. The Nurse Navigator serves as a primary
point of contact for patients throughout the preoperative process, providing
education, guidance, and timely communication to support patient readiness,
safety, and a positive surgical experience. This position follows established
Epic electronic health record (EHR) workflows, organizational policies, provider
protocols, and all applicable ASC guidelines for outpatient surgery.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned
at any time with or without notice.
* It is the expectation of all NWOS employees to demonstrate and uphold all 19
NWOS Fundamentals.
* Coordinate the preoperative process for patients scheduled for total joint
replacement surgery, tracking requirements and following up to support timely
surgical readiness.
* Serve as a primary point of contact for patients regarding preoperative
preparation, required documentation, testing, medical clearances, and
provider-directed instructions.
* Review patient medical records in Epic to verify completion of required
evaluations, laboratory results, diagnostic testing, consultations, and other
preoperative requirements.
* Identify missing documentation, abnormal results, medical concerns, and
potential barriers to surgical readiness; communicate and escalate concerns
to the appropriate provider or clinical team.
* Coordinate follow-up on outstanding preoperative requirements and facilitate
the clearance process within the scope of nursing practice and established
protocols. Final medical and anesthesia clearance decisions remain with the
appropriately authorized clinician.
* Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia personnel, surgery schedulers, the
Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), and other healthcare team members to
communicate patient readiness, outstanding requirements, and issues that may
affect the scheduled procedure.
* Confirm that required documentation and applicable outpatient surgery
eligibility requirements are addressed in accordance with established
provider protocols, organizational policies, and ASC guidelines.
* Provide patient education, reinforce provider-directed instructions, address
questions within the scope of nursing practice, and coordinate appropriate
follow-up when additional assistance is needed.
* Respond to patient telephone calls and electronic communications through
approved channels, providing timely, professional, and compassionate
communication to support a positive patient experience.
* Accurately document patient communications, clearance status, outstanding
requirements, and relevant clinical coordination in Epic.
* Support compliance with applicable regulatory, accreditation, infection
prevention, patient safety, and documentation requirements related to
outpatient total joint replacement surgery.
* Maintain awareness of current organizational and ASC requirements for
outpatient total joint replacement and communicate questions or discrepancies
to the appropriate supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Experience & Training: To perform this job successfully, an
individual must meet the minimum qualifications listed below. These
qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability
required to perform this job.
Required:
* Graduated from an accredited college of nursing
* Current unrestricted RN/LPN license in the State of Washington
* Valid BLS Certification within 30 days of hire
Preferred:
* One to two years of nursing experience, preferably in orthopedics, surgical
services, perioperative care, or care coordination.
* Experience with total joint replacement pathways and outpatient surgical
procedures.
* Experience using Epic or a comparable electronic health record system.
* Familiarity with preoperative clearance processes, anesthesia requirements,
and ASC eligibility criteria.
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & ABILITIES:
* Knowledge of nursing principles, practices, procedures, and professional
standards.
* Knowledge of orthopedic conditions and total joint replacement procedures.
* Understanding of preoperative assessment, medical record review, and surgical
clearance workflows.
* Familiarity with outpatient surgery requirements and ASC policies and
procedures.
* Proficiency in Epic or the ability to learn and consistently follow
established Epic workflows.
* Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage
multiple patients, track outstanding requirements, and prioritize competing
demands.
* Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including
the ability to provide clear patient education and reinforce
provider-directed instructions.
* Ability to recognize incomplete documentation, abnormal results, and
potential barriers to surgical readiness and escalate concerns appropriately.
* Ability to coordinate effectively with patients, surgery schedulers,
anesthesia personnel, providers, and other healthcare professionals to
support timely completion of preoperative requirements.
* Ability to apply established protocols and recognize when additional clinical
review is needed to determine patient readiness for outpatient surgery.
* Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and organizational
privacy policies.
* Ability to work independently within established protocols while recognizing
when clinical concerns require escalation.
* Demonstrated critical thinking, problem-solving, accountability, and sound
clinical judgment.
* Ability to learn new processes, adapt to changing priorities, and maintain
accurate documentation in a fast-paced environment.
* Commitment to patient safety, quality care, teamwork, and excellent customer
service.
BENEFITS:
* Medical Insurance
* Dental Insurance
* Vision Insurance
* Basic Life & ADD Insurance
* Long Term Disability Insurance
* Voluntary Short Term Disability Insurance
* Voluntary Life & ADD Insurance
* Health Savings Account
* Employee Assistance Program
* Voluntary AFLAC Options
* 401k Employer Match
* 401k Profit Sharing
* PTO
* 7 paid holidays
Wage Range:
LPN Pay scale: $31.96 - $51.67
RN Pay scale: $34.00 - $56.60
Related: LPN, Triage, Clinic