The role of the oncology nurse navigator in distress management of adult inpatients with cancer: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the oncology nurse navigator (ONN) role as an intervention decreases the distress of adult inpatients with cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review was used to collect information about patient distress scores at admission and discharge. Scores were compared to determine whether the ONN role is effective in lowering patients' distress levels.


METHODS
261-bed regional medical center in the midwestern United States.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 55 inpatients with diagnoses of cancer.


METHODS
Nurses asked patients with cancer to rate their distress daily during their stays. Correlation studies and two-tailed t tests were used to assess the relationship between the change in distress and the ONN intervention.


METHODS
Distress scores of patients seen by the ONN versus distress scores of patients not seen by the ONN.


RESULTS
Patients seen by the ONN tended to have lower distress scores on dismissal (p = 0.1046). The difference was clinically significant to warrant providing an ONN for patient distress. ONN visits have a statistically significant effect on distress scores of inpatients 65 years of age or younger (p = 0.044) and those from rural settings (p = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
An ONN can lower patients' cancer-related distress scores. Other research has shown that ONNs can help increase patient satisfaction; this research shows that the satisfaction may be related to a decrease in distress and increase in overall quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients experience high distress levels that can interfere with treatment compliance. This research shows that patients benefit from having an ONN to answer their questions and provide them with education about their diseases.
Swanson
Jay
J
Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, Lincoln, NE, USA. jaswanson@stez.org
Koch
Lisa
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology