Frequently Asked Question

What is the difference between a nurse navigator and a patient navigator? 

• Nurse Navigator - A clinically trained individual responsible for the identification and removal of barriers to timely and appropriate cancer treatment. They guide the patient through the cancer care continuum from diagnosis through survivorship. More specifically, the nurse navigator acts as a central point of contact for a patient and coordinates all components involved in cancer care including surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists; social workers; patient education; community support; financial and insurance assistance; etc. This person has the clinical background and is a critical member of the multidisciplinary cancer team. 
• Patient Navigator - This term includes all models of navigation (nurse; social work; lay). The primary distinction when this term is used to describe someone who is not a nurse is that they do not have a clinical background and therefore focus on the support aspects of care. Thus, they can be either a lay person or a social worker, and depending on their background and training, their function can vary further. In general they provide assistance with scheduling, financial assistance, psychosocial support, and community support. 

Is Academy of Oncology Nurse Navigators (AONN) membership only for Nurse Navigators? 
No, AONN membership is open to all those who are involved in patient navigation and survivorship, including nurses, social workers, lay navigators, case managers, administrators, physicians, researchers, and others.