Nurse Navigator– Inpatient Hematology

Primary Location
Burnet Campus
Department
CBDI Support
Shift
Day (United States of America)
Schedule
Full time
Weekly Hours
40
FTE
1
Employee Status
Regular

*Expected Starting Pay Range
$83,969.60 - $107,224.00
*Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on‑call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply. Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

Registered Nurse Navigator – Inpatient Hematology

Shift: Days 4 X 10-hour (day off Tuesday) or 5 X 8-hour shifts

Make a Difference in the Lives of Children with Hematologic Conditions

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is seeking an experienced and compassionate Registered Nurse to join our Inpatient Hematology Nurse Navigation team .

The Inpatient Hematology Nurse Navigator plays a vital role in supporting patients and families throughout their hospital stay. Unlike a traditional outpatient navigator who primarily follows patients in clinic, this role is embedded within the inpatient setting , following hematology patients during admission and helping coordinate care across the multidisciplinary team.

The navigator will support patients with a variety of hematologic diagnoses and conditions. A significant portion of the inpatient population includes adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease , making a strong passion for caring for this population particularly valuable. At the same time, this role provides the opportunity to develop expertise across a broad range of pediatric hematology conditions.

This position is ideal for a nurse who enjoys complex care coordination, multidisciplinary collaboration, patient and family advocacy, and building strong relationships with patients during challenging hospitalizations .

What You'll Do

Inpatient Patient Navigation & Care Coordination

- Serve as a consistent nursing resource and point of contact for hematology patients and families during hospitalization.
- Follow patients throughout their inpatient stay to promote continuity, coordination, and a positive patient and family experience.
- Coordinate care across nursing, physicians, advanced practice providers, social work, pharmacy, psychology, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
- Identify barriers to care and work proactively with the healthcare team to address patient and family needs.
- Support coordination of diagnostic testing, procedures, consultations, treatments, discharge planning, and follow-up care.
- Help facilitate seamless transitions between inpatient and outpatient care.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration & Rounds

- Regularly participate in inpatient rounds and contribute nursing expertise to patient care planning.
- Serve as a communication bridge between the patient and family and members of the healthcare team.
- Facilitate timely communication of patient and family concerns, clinical needs, and barriers to care.
- Collaborate with the broader hematology team to ensure consistent understanding of the patient's treatment plan and goals.
- Help coordinate communication across services when patients have complex or multiple healthcare needs.

Clinical Assessment & Monitoring

- Assess patients throughout their hospitalization and identify changes or concerns requiring additional evaluation or intervention.
- Apply clinical knowledge of hematologic conditions and treatment plans to support timely care coordination.
- Monitor clinical information, laboratory results, treatment plans, and other relevant patient data in collaboration with the healthcare team.
- Recognize potential barriers, complications, or changes in the patient's condition and communicate concerns appropriately.
- Participate in patient and family triage and clinical communication within scope of practice.

Patient & Family Education

- Provide individualized education related to the patient's diagnosis, treatment plan, hospitalization, medications, symptom management, and discharge needs.
- Reinforce education provided by the interdisciplinary team.
- Assess patient and family understanding and adapt education to meet developmental, cultural, and health-literacy needs.
- Prepare patients and families for transitions between inpatient and outpatient care.
- Support adolescents and young adults as they develop increasing independence in managing their healthcare.

Sickle Cell Patient & Family Support

- Develop strong therapeutic relationships with adolescents, young adults, and families affected by sickle cell disease.
- Support patients and families navigating complex or recurrent hospitalizations.
- Identify psychosocial, educational, financial, transportation, or other barriers that may affect care.
- Partner with social work, psychology, child life, school services, and community resources to address identified needs.
- Advocate for patient and family goals and preferences while supporting shared decision-making.
- Promote consistent communication and continuity across repeated hospital encounters.

Advocacy & Transitions of Care

- Advocate for patients and families throughout the hospitalization.
- Support effective discharge planning and preparation for return home.
- Help ensure patients and families understand follow-up plans, medications, appointments, and ongoing care needs.
- Facilitate communication with outpatient providers and other care teams to support continuity following discharge.
- Help identify opportunities to reduce fragmented care and improve the overall patient and family experience.

Quality, Safety & Program Development

- Participate in quality improvement initiatives focused on hematology care, patient navigation, transitions, and the patient and family experience.
- Identify opportunities to improve communication, care coordination, workflows, and inpatient navigation processes.
- Contribute to development and maintenance of educational materials, resources, and role-specific workflows.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record.
- Support compliance with professional nursing standards and Cincinnati Children’s policies and procedures.

Why Cincinnati Children's?

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children's health better.

Our nurses are essential to achieving that mission. As an Inpatient Hematology Nurse Navigator, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, adolescents, young adults, and their families during some of their most challenging healthcare experiences.

You will work alongside nationally recognized pediatric hematology experts and a highly collaborative interdisciplinary team while helping patients and families navigate complex care.

As a Cincinnati Children's nurse, you'll have the opportunity to:

- Build meaningful relationships with patients and families.
- Provide relationship-based, patient- and family-centered care.
- Develop specialized expertise in pediatric hematology and sickle cell disease.
- Work directly with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate complex care.
- Participate in rounds and contribute your nursing expertise to care planning.
- Advocate for adolescents and young adults as they develop greater independence in managing their health.
- Support improved transitions between inpatient and outpatient care.
- Identify opportunities to improve the patient and family experience.
- Continue to grow and elevate your nursing practice.

Join Our Inpatient Hematology Team

If you are an experienced pediatric nurse who is passionate about hematology, sickle cell disease, complex care coordination, and advocating for adolescents and young adults , we invite you to bring your expertise to Cincinnati Children’s.

As an Inpatient Hematology Nurse Navigator, you will be more than a care coordinator—you will be a consistent advocate, communicator, and resource for patients, families, and the healthcare team throughout the hospital journey.

Job Responsibilities ​

- Patient Navigation & Care Coordination  - Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned patients and families across phases of care. Coordinate care across inpatient, outpatient, procedural, and specialty services to ensure continuity and minimize fragmentation. Facilitate referrals, diagnostic testing, procedures, treatments, and follow-up appointments. Support transitions of care (e.g., diagnosis to treatment, inpatient to outpatient, pediatric to adult care, survivorship). Collaborate with internal and external providers, institutions, and community resources to support patient needs.

- Clinical Assessment & Monitoring  - Utilize advanced, disease-specific clinical expertise to assess patient status, anticipate treatment-related complications and side effects, and support timely clinical decision-making. Evaluate treatment progress and response to care using established guidelines, pathways, and protocols. Monitor laboratory results, diagnostic studies, and treatment plans in collaboration with providers. Identify and escalate clinical concerns, barriers to care, or deviations from expected outcomes. Participate in triage of patient and family calls, messages, and electronic communications within scope of practice.

- Patient & Family Education  - Provide diagnosis-specific, treatment-related, and anticipatory guidance tailored to patient and family needs. Educate patients and caregivers on symptom management, medications, treatment plans, and when/how to seek care. Reinforce safety education, discharge instructions, and care plans across settings. Assess health literacy and adapt education accordingly.

- Psychosocial Support & Advocacy  - Identify psychosocial, financial, logistical, and system-level barriers to care. Facilitate referrals to social work, psychology, school services, financial counseling, and community resources. Advocate for patient and family goals, preferences, and shared decision-making. Support patients and families during high-risk, complex, or emotionally challenging phases of care.

- Interdisciplinary Collaboration  - Act as a liaison between patients/families and the healthcare team to optimize communication and care planning. Participate in multidisciplinary meetings (e.g., care conferences, tumor boards, planning meetings) as appropriate. Collaborate with nursing, physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacy, social work, and ancillary services. Provide clinical input to support care planning and coordination.

- Quality, Safety & Program Support  - Participate in quality improvement initiatives, program evaluation, and outcomes tracking. Contribute to development and maintenance of role-specific workflows, educational materials, and resources. Support compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and institutional standards. Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record.

- Professional Practice & Development  - Practice in accordance with professional nursing standards, scope of practice, and ethical guidelines. Maintain required licensure, certifications, and competencies. Engage in ongoing professional development and continuing education. Serve as a clinical resource and mentor to colleagues as appropriate.

Job Qualifications

Required

- Bachelor's degree in Nursing.
- ACEN/CCNE accredited BSN OR MSN OR Associate/Diploma RN AND 2+ years of experience and BSN/MSN.
- 5+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
- Active Ohio RN License. May be required to obtain other state license

- Experience providing nursing care to pediatric patients.
- Strong clinical assessment, communication, organization, and care coordination skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a complex multidisciplinary environment.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to advocate effectively for patients and families.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusting relationships with adolescents, young adults, and families.

Preferred Qualifications

- Pediatric hematology or oncology nursing experience.
- Experience caring for patients with sickle cell disease .
- Experience working with adolescents and young adults.
- Previous nurse navigation, care coordination, or complex case management experience.
- Experience participating in interdisciplinary rounds.
- Experience coordinating care across inpatient and outpatient settings.
- Professional nursing certification relevant to hematology, oncology, or pediatric nursing.
- Experience supporting patients with complex chronic health conditions.

Specialty experience (e.g., oncology, hematology, transplant, chronic disease management).

- Professional nursing certification relevant to role or population (e.g., OCN®, CPHON®, BMTCN®, RN-BC).

- Experience in care coordination, navigation, or complex case management.

About Us

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s.

Cincinnati Children's is:

- Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a  top 10   best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years
- Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH)  Funding
- Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers   (2025) , America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025)
- One of the nation's  America’s Most Innovative Companies  as noted by Fortune
- Consistently certified as great place to work
- A Leading Disability Employer  as noted by the  National Organization on Disability
- Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the  American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

We Embrace Innovation—Together.  We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us.

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability