Patient navigation in the oncology care setting.

OBJECTIVES: To review the evolution and current status of patient navigation in cancer care settings, discuss challenges as navigation evolves, and suggest education and research needs to optimize outcomes associated with navigation processes and nurse navigator roles. DATA SOURCES: Literature review, association publications, and government and non-governmental documents.
CONCLUSION: Since its inception over two decades ago, navigation programs have been established in hospitals in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other nations. Despite wide-spread implementation, challenges remain in defining the navigator processes and navigator roles, preparation, qualifications, and job descriptions. Scientific efforts are needed to craft and codify these definitions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses and organized nursing must identify the needs reflected by the navigation processes and support role delineation, identification, and validation of educational curriculum and competencies.