Plus Pointers
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
Patient navigators will work with a variety of patients with diverse backgrounds including people of different genders, ages, cultures, races, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
A cancer diagnosis can create extreme stress for some patients. As such, patient navigators should exhibit insight and understanding about emotions and human response to emotions to create and maintain positive interpersonal interactions.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
Patient navigators should continually be seeking new information that can benefit their patients. This includes the identification, understanding, analysis, and use of resources and services for cancer patients with a myriad of needs.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
Patient navigators have a responsibility to stay up-to-date on leading edge evidence-based information and resources. This includes scholarly journal articles, information in popular media outlets, books, and emerging content important to their area of practice.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
It’s tough when you work with a patient and their loved ones and things take a turn for the worse. This can be especially challenging for you as they try to process news such as death.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
Patient self-determination is a critical component of quality cancer care. This means that patients should be involved in a shared decision making process and that their priorities and preferences should be respected by the healthcare team.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
Patient navigators should continuously evaluate their professional role and any perceived or actual conflicts of interest with their personal life.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
Patient navigators should have a list of resources at their fingertips in order to assist patients with a variety of different challenges. They should also know which resources are credible and can be most helpful to particular patients.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
Patients often lean on their navigators to ask questions, seek information, and get the “bottom line” in terms of their treatment and care. Trust is an integral part of this relationship and navigators simply cannot competently do their job without a deep level of trust with the patient.
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, HON-OPN-CG
There are core concepts critical to the work of a navigator. Empathy, integrity, honesty, and compassion are central to working with patients who may be confused, frightened, or overwhelmed.
