Navigation & Survivorship News

Managing Dysfunctional Family Dynamics Amid a Patient’s End of Life

Many assume that when a person is approaching the end of life, their family members will set aside their differences and come together in a loving way. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen…and you, as their navigator or nurse, are likely to get caught in the fray. In her latest column, Lillie provides some ground rules and tips to help you advocate for your patient in these situations.

Measuring the Impact of Your Scholarship Donation

Recently, AONN+ scholarship recipient and conference attendee Meghan Lundvall, RN, BA, OCN, shared the ways in which her clinic has “changed dramatically since [attending] the 2021 AONN+ Annual Conference.” Her inspiring story is a testament to the worthwhile generosity of the AONN+ community.

Sharon Gentry’s latest contribution to the AONN+ member blog shares how your scholarship donations grant equal opportunities for the wider navigation community to learn, share, and move forward together.

Local Navigation Networks a Powerful Educational Resource

AONN+’s Local Navigation Networks (LNNs) tackled the industry’s hottest topics and trends. Sharon Gentry shares LNNs’ biggest takeaways and lessons learned as related to navigational challenges due to the lack of oncology coverage, the impact and appropriateness of genetic testing, and the difference between a mediocre and phenomenal career.

Helping Patients Understand and Enroll in Hospice Care

Navigators know how valuable hospice care is for patients with advanced cancer, but there is still a lot of misconception on the topic for those less familiar with it. Lillie Shockney offers expert guidance on how navigators can help make the transition to hospice care easier and more meaningful for patients in her latest Insights into Navigation article.

Financial Toxicity and Patient Navigation

Financial toxicity describes financial burden and stress caused by cancer treatment for patients and their caregivers. Financial distress may include lost wages or employment as a result of cancer, along with lost health insurance coverage. Helping patients navigate financial choices and challenges is a critical part of patient navigation. Unfortunately, many health care professionals are not comfortable asking about financial challenges and are not fully aware of resources available to support their patients' care. We invite you to learn how you can overcome this gap to better help your patients!

Not a Navigator? The Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice Can Still Work for You!

It turns out that the Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice aren’t just for clinical and patient navigators. In her latest contribution to the AONN+ member blog, Sharon Gentry explains how people in nonclinical roles can benefit from these standards too.

Fall is Here—Time to Get Vaccinated

Changing leaves and pumpkin spice coffee aren’t the only things we should be thinking about this fall. In her latest Insights into Navigation blog, Lillie D. Shockney highlights the importance of routine vaccines for navigators and our patients.

Raising Awareness about Cancer Survivor Needs

Awareness campaigns are wonderful ways to share important information with your community, but they can take significant time and energy to produce. GW Cancer Center is helping to make it easier for you to raise awareness during cancer awareness months through a series of comprehensive “plug and play” campaigns that do the legwork for you. Be sure to check out their campaigns for breast and lung cancer in October!

AONN+ Helping to Bring Advanced Diagnostic Technology to Providers and Patients

Early detection is key in the fight against cancer. Now, a powerful tool could make early detection easier—all with a simple blood test. Sharon Gentry’s latest contribution to the AONN+ member blog shares how the Academy and navigators at-large are playing an important role in bringing this cutting-edge technology to providers and their patients.

Connecting Patients with Resources—Do They Follow Through?

Can we limit the amount of information that goes unheard and/or is incorrectly recalled by patients? Lillie D. Shockney shares best practices on how to deliver memorable follow-up instructions in her latest contribution to the Insights into Navigation blog.