title: Implementing the role of patient-navigator nurse at a university hospital centre.
abstract: A profile of the role and functions of an oncology patient-navigator nurse (OPN) and the preliminary phases to implementing this role within a team specializing in oncology are first presented. This is followed by a qualitative study that provides a descriptive assessment for implementing an initial OPN in the head and neck oncology area of a university hospital centre (UHC) with a supraregional model for oncology. Three groups of stakeholders (individuals with cancer and families, caregivers, network partners) were interviewed on three occasions: before, during and after implementation. The results show that this new role can be integrated within a team specializing in oncology. The beneficial effects of this role on the process of adaptation to illness, interdisciplinary work and continuity of care are described. Several recommendations are formulated, one being the importance of situating the implementation process from an organizational change perspective.
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences Infirmières, Universite Laval, Quebec City, QC. lise.fillion@fsi.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fillion
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Serres
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lapointe-Goupil
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bairati
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deschamps
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savard
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélanger
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demers
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011792:Quebec; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*