When a patient receives life-changing news, everything can feel overwhelming, and at times, impossible. That’s where a nurse navigator can make all the difference.
Nurse navigators assist patients with conditions that require long-term care and treatment. For example, when someone is newly diagnosed with cancer, a nurse navigator meets with the patient and walks them through everything necessary for their foreseeable medical journey.
“We give the patient any support we can to make sure they have what they need,” said oncology nurse navigator Whitney Brueggemann, RN, at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s – Ozaukee Campus. “Being a nurse navigator is all about being resourceful and knowing more than one specialty. We’re your go to resource to better understand your diagnosis and discuss your options for care.”
That support includes helping the patient understand treatment recommendations, scheduling appointments, attending consults with patients, being a liaison between several specialists, and connecting them with helpful resources, to name a few examples.
“Before we even see the patient, we call to get to know them and make sure they feel comfortable with us. We like to establish a rapport,” said oncology nurse navigator Samantha Egerer, RN, also at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee. “We check in and follow their progress. And when they’ve completed treatment, we stay in touch to help them understand life after treatment.”
One of those patients is Herman Nolting. Brueggemann and Egerer supported the 90-year-old through his cancer journey after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January. He underwent 26 rounds of treatment at the Polly and Bill Van Dyke Cancer Center at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee.
“The treatment I got was just phenomenal,” Nolting said. “They told me everything I needed to know, and they answered all of my questions.”
Research shows nurse navigators improve both the timeliness and effectiveness of care, while also increasing patient satisfaction.
“Everyone in that hospital would bend over backwards for you,” Nolting said. “All the experiences I’ve had at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee have been so good, I don’t want to go to another hospital. When you find good people, you stick with them.”
“Patients like Herman are what make this job so rewarding. We’ve maintained a heartfelt connection with him,” Egerer said. “The work itself is also very fulfilling. It allows me to spread my wings. I can meet with providers, visit different departments, and be involved in all phases of care rather than just one.”
Nurse navigators like Brueggemann and Egerer exemplify the compassion and dedication that define nursing. Not just during National Nurses Month, but year-round, their work reminds us that expert care isn’t just about treatment, it’s about walking beside patients every step of the way.
“We’re here to put the pieces of the puzzle together,” Brueggemann said. “We’re here for our patients on their good days and their bad days. We’re self-motivated to help them navigate this uncertain time, and get them to the finish line.”
This story was featured on TMJ4. You can watch the full story here.
