Incredible Health Staff

Nurse Types / Nurse Navigator

Diseases are complex. Understanding and dealing with diseases takes a team: enter the nurse navigator. These nurses must care for patients by advocating for them throughout the healing process. This includes helping the patient work with the clinical staff.

According to the NCBI, Dr. Harold Freeman created the initial nurse navigator position for Harlem Hospital in the 1990s. 

In this article, we will explore:

• What is a nurse navigator?
• What do nurse navigators do?
• How do you become a nurse navigator?
• What are the skills required for nurse navigators?
• What is the salary outlook for nurse navigators?

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What is a nurse navigator?

A nurse navigator is as a middle man between the patient and clinical care staff. They help navigate the patient through the treatment process by connecting them to resources and information to make informed decisions. A nurse navigator assists the patient from initial diagnosis to end-of-life treatment if necessary.

What do nurse navigators do?

Nurse navigators help their patients throughout the treatment process. Below are some of the roles nurse navigators perform. 

Education

One primary benefits of a nurse navigator is providing expert information to patients. Often, patients learn about a diagnosis, and they rush to Google or their close friend, which only fills them with worry. 

A nurse navigator can provide expert education about the disease along with treatments. 

Community resources 

This benefit connects patients to community resources. For example, many new cancer patients feel afraid and alone when they first receive the diagnosis. A nurse navigator can help find them support groups to attend to alleviate those feelings. 

Provides clinical resources

The navigator helps equip their patient with information about other clinical options that may not be available locally. They also can show a patient where to find a second opinion.

Monitors symptoms

 As a middle man between the patient and care team, the navigator records a patient’s symptoms. For example, say the navigator notices a patient’s swelling. They can inform the oncology nurse or RN to run some tests to determine what’s wrong.

Psychological assistance

When a patient feels distressed, they may reach out to the nurse for help. The nurse navigator can provide comfort and, if necessary, refer them to a social worker or counselor for more support.

3 steps to becoming a nurse navigator

Nurse navigators fill a key role. Therefore, they need to have skills and education.

Step 1: Earn a nursing degree

The first step to becoming a nurse navigator is earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). While you can become a nurse navigator with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), having a bachelor’s degree will help you against the competition.

Step 2: Get an RN license

If you don’t have your registered nursing license, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam after earning your BSN or ADN.

Step 3: Obtain certification

Last, you need to obtain a certification through the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators.

What are the skills required for nurse navigators?

Ability to work independently

Though these nurses can use the clinical care team, they generally work alone. Their work depends on a keen ability to communicate between parties. Having the ability to work alone helps the whole process work well. 

Strong organizational skills

This is a must for navigators. They schedule medical appointments, comply with safety methods, create patient care programs and record data. Having these skills will help promote effective care for patients. 

Critical thinking skills

One of the keys to critical thinking is explaining. You need to relay complex information in ways that the patient understands. Another aspect of critical thinking for this role is analysis. To analyze, you need to collect data and making evidence-based decisions. Last, self-regulating helps nurses remove their own biases and assumptions while on the job. 

Empathy

The significance of compassion or empathy as a nurse, in general, can’t go understated. The same rings true for nurse navigators. Empathy helps a nurse meet a patient where they are. Nurse navigators deal with a host of patients from various backgrounds, so empathizing with others goes a long way.

Overall, a nurse navigator plays a crucial role in a patient’s treatment. They navigate the patient and lead them to the resources and help to deal with their illness.

What is the salary outlook for nurse navigators?

Nurse navigators salary depends on a host of factors from location, experience, and education. The average salary for a registered nurse in the United States is $82,750 per year. Most nurse navigators make about $70,319 a year.

FAQs

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Nurse Types / Clinical Nurse Instructor

Nurses are a hot commodity in the healthcare industry. An ongoing nursing shortage has made it more important than ever to train enough new nursing to fill the gaps.

Clinical nurse instructors are nurse educators responsible for the clinical training of new nurses. They help their students provide excellent patient care. Without them, nursing students miss out on a critical component of their education.

In this article you’ll discover:

• What is a clinical nurse instructor?
• What do clinical nurse instructors do?
• Where do clinical nurse instructors work?
• What are closely related fields?
• How do you become a clinical nurse instructor in 3 steps?
• What are additional requirements of clinical nurse instructors?
• What are the salary and career outlooks for clinical nurse instructors?

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What is a clinical nurse instructor?

A clinical nurse instructor is a registered nurse (RN) who serves as an adjunct faculty member of an accredited nursing school. They are strictly responsible for the clinical component of nursing materials covered in the classroom.

For instance, let’s say you just learned about monitoring patient vitals during a recent lecture. A clinical nurse instructor would guide you in practicing this new skill during a clinical experience on a real patient.

Without clinical nurse instructors, nursing students would lack the real-world training they need to build confidence in their skills.

Qualities of a successful clinical nurse instructor

To become a successful clinical nurse instructor, you must have the following qualities:

• Clinical expertise you can use to guide your nursing students through hands-on instruction
• Conflict resolution ability to quickly resolve any issues with nursing students or patients involved in clinical training
• Critical thinking skills to make quick judgments when instructing new nurses in the field
• Communication skills that allow you to clearly connect with nursing students and the patients they encounter during clinicals
•  Leadership abilities to help nurses feel capable and confident
• Organization skills to keep accurate records of all nursing students’ progress during clinicals

What do clinical nurse instructors do?

Clinical nurse instructors have many responsibilities. Your chief concern is to ensure nurse trainees have the hands-on skills needed to perform all required tasks.

Each instructor has an assigned group of students to evaluate on course-related clinical activities. You might have half a dozen students or more depending on the nursing school’s guidelines.

Some of the skills you can expect to assess include:

• Bedside manners and technique
• Medication administration

You’ll be expected to provide constructive criticism and offer mentoring opportunities to your students. Clinical nurse instructors must keep updated on the latest nursing best practices.

Another important job duty is to protect patient outcomes. New nurses can make mistakes practicing nursing skills on real people. You must closely supervise to reduce the risk of negative consequences.

A day in the life of a clinical nurse instructor

A typical day in the life of a clinical nurse instructor can be a bit hectic depending on the number of students you observe. Among the most common tasks you can expect to perform each day include:

• Checking in with nursing students and any other nursing staff involved in that day’s training
• Evaluating and setting up all equipment needed for clinical education lessons for the day
• Observing nursing students as they practice the clinical skill for the day
• Tracking student progress on clinical skills and expectations

What clinical nurse instructors teach

Clinical nurse instructors generally do not treat patients. If you pursue this nursing career, it is your job to educate nursing students on nursing best practices and other required clinical knowledge.

Some of the nursing skills you might teach include:

• How to record patient vitals 
• How to bathe or clothe patients 
• How to administer medication 
• How to communicate with patients about their condition/treatment 
• How to change linens and make beds 
• How to place an IV or foley catheter 

You also must guide student nurses through a typical day on the job, which means you may encounter patients with a variety of health concerns and conditions.

Where do clinical nurse instructors work?

Clinical nurse instructors work with nursing schools in a clinical training setting. You may end up teaching nursing students in a community setting, in a hospital, or in home care.

If you’re training nursing students in a particular specialty, like maternity care, you may find yourself in a birthing center or a local women’s hospital.

What are closely related fields?

Clinical nurse educators are closely related to nurse educators who teach in the classroom only. They require the same level of education and nursing licensure.

Other similar fields include:

• Education consultant
• Curriculum coordinator
• Professional development specialist

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How do you become a clinical nurse instructor in 3 steps?

Becoming a clinical nurse instructor requires an advanced nursing degree and RN licensure. Follow these three steps to get started in your new nursing career.

Step 1 – Become a registered nurse

The first step in your journey to becoming a clinical nurse instructor is to earn your registered nurse (RN) licensure. You can become an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).  However, most healthcare employers require RNs to hold a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN).

Earn a BSN degree

You can earn a BSN in one of three ways. If you are new to nursing, you can attend a four-year BSN program at an accredited nursing school.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in a different field you can participate in an accelerated BSN program. This can take as little as 1 year. 

If you are already an RN, you can enroll in an RN to BSN program so you can work and attend school at the same time.

Pass the NCLEX-RN

After you’ve completed your BSN program, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to earn your licensure. Before you take the exam, you can brush up on your skills with the NCLEX-RN exam study guides and other test preparation materials provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). This is  the licensing body which administers the exams.

Step 2 – Accumulate experience

After you have your RN license, you’ll want to spend at least two years gaining valuable on-the-job experience. Since nursing students are evaluated in a variety of healthcare settings, you may want to gain expertise as an RN in areas like medical surgical or pediatrics.

Helpful skills and experience

Clear communication is a must-have skill if you plan to work as a clinical nurse instructor. You’ll need to provide meaningful feedback to your students, as well as have conversations with patients who have agreed to be part of the clinical training process.

Other helpful abilities include:

• Adaptability. You never know when you’ll need to change up a pre-planned exercise because of unforeseen circumstances.
• Approachability. Students become more proficient when they feel comfortable approaching you with questions or concerns.
• Clinical competence. If you’re going to teach students nursing skills, you must first master them yourself.

Changing specialty to a clinical nurse instructor

If you’re already working as an RN and interested in switching your specialty to clinical nurse instructor, it’s a fairly easy switch to make.

Let’s say you’re already working as an emergency room RN. In your current role, you’ve been exposed to a variety of illnesses and injuries. You can take that experience and roll it over into clinical expertise.

Need a few refreshers on specific procedures and best practices? Incredible Health offers plenty of free CEUs for nurses looking to expand their knowledge and change their nursing specialties.

Step 3 – Earn an MSN degree

The final step in becoming a clinical nurse instructor is to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. While it’s not a requirement in every state, many nursing programs prefer it.

If you already hold a BSN, some nursing programs allow you to begin your new role if you’re enrolled in an MSN program. You also can take advantage of a BSN to MSN program to reach your goal faster. 

What are additional requirements of clinical nurse instructors?

While not necessary, you may want to consider certifications tailored to clinical nurse instructors. One of the most popular options is the Certified Nurse Educator credential from the National League for Nursing (NLN).

Clinical nurse instructors who pass the exam receive documentation of their proficiency as a nurse educator, which can boost your chances of landing a lucrative position.

What are the salary and career outlooks for clinical nurse instructors?

The national average annual salary for clinical nurse instructors is $85,937. Some of the highest-paying states for clinical nurse instructors include:

• Florida – $116,650
• Washington, D.C. – $111,940
• Massachusetts – $106,950
• California – $106,420
• New York – $98,850

As with all RNs, demand for clinical nurse instructors is expected to grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031.

Job satisfaction

Most clinical nurse instructors report a high satisfaction level with their jobs.

If you’re still unsure whether you’ll enjoy a career as a clinical nurse instructor, you can always talk with other nursing professionals currently working in the field to seek their opinion about their working conditions.

Next steps

Becoming a clinical nurse instructor opens the door for career advancement in the future. If you’ve already earned your MSN, the next step may be to consider a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

A DNP can qualify you for leadership positions like Nurse Administrator and Director of Nursing in a variety of healthcare settings.

Becoming a clinical nurse instructor is never a boring job. You’ll be educating future generations of nurses, making a true difference in the healthcare industry! 

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Career Resources / Job Searching / Best Hospitals Iowa

Iowa has a number of hospitals offering nurses and other healthcare workers plenty of opportunities for work and advancement. We’ve put together a list of some of the best hospitals in The Hawkeye State. Read on to learn more.

Iowa’s Top Hospital

• Buena Vista Regional Medical Center
• Mary Greeley Medical Center
• MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center
• St. Luke’s Hospital
• University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

Best Hospitals in Iowa

Our list is based on criteria from several sources, including U.S. News & World Report, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Healthgrades, that examined factors like patient outcomes and quality of care.

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (BVRMC), also known as Buena Vista County Hospital, is rated high performing in hip fracture by U.S. News & World Report. 

The organization was accredited in various programs by The Joint Commission, including ambulatory care and as a critical access hospital. It also received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades in 2020.

Learn more about Buena Vista Regional Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Storm Lake, Iowa
• Employees: 400

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Mary Greeley Medical Center

Mary Greeley Medical Center is a Magnet hospital. This recognition, from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), identifies hospitals with transformational leadership, exemplary practice and other features that result in lower nurse dissatisfaction and low RN turnover.

The facility is rated high performing in colon cancer surgery, kidney failure, back surgery and hip fracture by U.S. News & World Report.

It was also the first hospital in Iowa to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross for its innovative solutions to challenges, as well as its leadership and operational excellence. The federal government gave it a four-star rating.

Learn more about Mary Greeley Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Ames, Iowa
• Employees: 1,490+

MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center*

MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, or simply Mercy Hospital, is a Magnet hospital rated with high performance in hip fracture and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by U.S. News & World Report.

The hospital was named one of the World’s Best Hospitals in 2022 by Newsweek and Statista. It was also recognized with a Gold Plus Level in the Get With The Guidelines program from The American Heart Association for its commitment to improving patient care by adhering to the latest guidelines for Type 2 diabetes and heart attack. 

Mercy Hospital has a five-star rating from the federal government.

Learn more about MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Dubuque, Iowa
• Hospital network: 16 facilities 
• Employees: 20,000+ (across the entire network)

St. Luke’s Hospital

St. Luke’s Hospital has Magnet status and is a member of the UnityPoint Health system. The facility is ranked No. 3 in Iowa and is also rated high performing in several procedures or conditions, such as colon cancer surgery, aortic valve surgery and maternity care, by U.S. News & World Report. 

In 2022, the institution was voted the Best Hospital in the Corridor by the Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) for its success as a business. In 2019 it was named one of the 100 Top Hospitals by IBM Watson Health for the eighth time.

The federal government gave it a five-star rating.

Learn more about St. Luke’s Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit
• Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Hospital network: two facilities 

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (UIHC), a Magnet hospital, is ranked No. 1 in Iowa and is nationally ranked in cancer; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery; geriatrics and various other adult specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

The institution has received the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). It was also named one of the Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes in 2020 and was considered a top 10 hospital for consumer loyalty by NRC Health the same year.

UIHC has a four-star rating from the federal government. 

Learn more about University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Iowa City, Iowa
• Hospital network: 40+ facilities (across the entire network)
• Employees: 12,000+

* Incredible Health helps these hospitals find permanent nurses. Sign up to get matched with nursing jobs!

What makes a best hospital in Iowa

Discover what makes Iowa hospitals stand out from the rest of the country.

Benefits

Besides salary, in Iowa, you can find employers offering useful benefits such as health insurance, legal services, adoption assistance, among other options.

Growth opportunity

Besides getting your dream job, it’s natural to strive for higher levels of professionalism. As a RN, you could become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or a nurse practitioner (NP), which are two promising specializations. 

Employee satisfaction

The American Journal of Medicine has concluded that, in general, nurses spend more time with patients than other healthcare professionals. It may help to increase patient adherence to treatments but requires more energy and patience from the nurse. That’s a reason employers invest in employee satisfaction, which also prevents job fatigue, burnout and other health problems.

High patient satisfaction

Top hospitals implement patient satisfaction strategies for many reasons, including employee satisfaction, patient loyalty and reputation. At UIHC, for instance, there is an office of patient experience. They also have a Patient and Family Advisory Board (PFAB), support groups and financial assistance.

Other factors that make a top hospital

In addition to the above-listed factors, there are several other features that may make a hospital stand out among the best in Iowa, including an emphasis on customer service and safety.

Safety record is critical

Infection prevention and control is one of the biggest worries in a hospital. But it can easily reach high performance through the implementation of standards and the recording of procedures.

Hospital policies focus on customer services 

Customer service-oriented hospitals generally expect nurses to listen actively, to create positive emotions in their patients and to apologize when medical problems occur.

Latest technology and training improve healthcare

Many technological innovations also help a hospital perform better. St Luke’s Hospital, for example, started offering a robotic-assisted option for lung biopsy, according to CBJ. In addition to helping patients recover faster, this also increases their satisfaction and retention.

Ethics lead the way

Health ethics explore complex discussions, including treatment options, allocation of resources and advancing technology. If a hospital establishes its ethical values, all healthcare professionals follow one set of guidelines when dealing with people.

Next steps

It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced nurse or a recent graduate, working at one of the above-listed Iowa hospitals might boost your career.

But everything starts with job hunting. Continue reading to check out our tips.

Build your resume

A fundamental step, before you get hired by a top hospital, is submitting the perfect resume. It has to be well formatted, with a contact section, experience sections and, preferably, come with a cover letter. Understand this better with our nursing resume guide.

Join a nurses association

Joining a nursing organization is one of the best ways to develop your career and get your dream job. It offers many opportunities, including networking and learning the best practice guidelines. But it’s not the only type of association. Nursing unions are also a valid option, especially if you want to advocate for better pay.

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Attend industry educational conferences and workshops

If you can’t join a nursing association, you can still find networking opportunities through nursing conferences. Check out our advice section to learn more about working in Iowa. 

Keep up with continuing education requirements

Acquiring knowledge isn’t just a step you have to take to land a job. In many states, including Iowa, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are one of the requirements to maintain a nursing license.

To help you, we offer free Iowa CEU courses so you can learn online, in the comfort of your home.

Search for job openings

Join Incredible Health if you want to work in Iowa and reach your goals faster. You’ll receive multiple job offers and choose what fits best according to your preferences.

Transfer your nursing license to Iowa

Iowa is a compact state. Nurses who aren’t from this state need to transfer their licenses, but it’s not as difficult as it seems. 

Check out our guide to make this process painless.