CRANBURY, NJ – A special one-day track for nonclinically licensed oncology patient navigators will be offered at the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) Sixth Annual Navigation and Survivorship Conference in Atlanta on October 1-4, 2015.
Patient navigation is among the fastest growing professions in healthcare today, with the average navigator being on the job less than 5 years. Many navigators come to the position from the nursing profession, but that is not true of all navigators. Some come from fields such as social work or case management. Others come from a variety of disciplines outside of healthcare and some find patient navigation after being patients themselves.
“Such individuals are deserving of continuing education and to be recognized as professionals too,” says Lillie Shockney, Program Director of AONN+. “There are a variety of navigation functions that these professionals perform which warrants recognition. We value the work they do on behalf of patients and as a member of the navigation team.”
“Creating a conference track specifically for non–nurse navigators is something that the AONN+ Leadership Council has discussed for several years,” says Mandi Chapman, Director of the George Washington University Cancer Institute and a member of the AONN+ Leadership Council. “It’s an important addition to the conference schedule because AONN+ is committed to serving all of its members, no matter their backgrounds.”
The special “Patient Navigator Track” – which is the result of a collaboration between AONN+ and the Southeast Regional Patient Navigator (SEPN) leadership collaborative – will be offered on day 3 of the conference (Saturday, October 3) and will include the following topics:
- Patient Navigators: The Key to Achieving Cancer Care Equity (Keynote Session)
- Review of GW Cancer Institute Core Competencies for Patient Navigators
- Interviewing and Assessment
- Communication: Art of Active Listening
- Role of the Navigator on the Multidisciplinary Team: Ethics, Boundaries, and Teamwork
- Cultural Competency
- Helping Professionals and Self-Care
“These topics were developed in response to the results of a recent survey conducted by the AONN+ Patient Navigator Track Committee and reflect the needs of our non–nurse navigators,” says Christi Sheffield, Manager of Supportive Care Services, University of Virginia Cancer Center and SEPN Founder. “SEPN is thrilled with the opportunity that this collaboration with AONN+ will offer navigators who are on the front lines of providing patient services. Many patient navigators have not yet participated in a national conference. Through AONN+, they will be connected to a larger navigation network, learn about best practices across the country, and better understand how patient navigators are an integral component of a national initiative to provide the best experience for cancer patients and their families.”
Patient navigators may register for either the one-day Patient Navigator Track or participate in all 4 days of the conference at the following rates:
| AONN+ MEMBERS Patient Navigator Track Only $75 (early bird rate*) $100 full price Full Conference Plus Patient Navigator Track $300 (early bird rate*) $350 full price | NON-AONN+ MEMBERS Patient Navigator Track Only $90 (early bird rate*) $115 full priceFull Conference Plus Patient Navigator Track $425 (early bird rate*) $475 full price |
To learn more or register for either the AONN+ Patient Navigator Track and/or the Annual Navigation and Survivorship Conference, visit www.aonnonline.org.
About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators® (www.aonnonline.org) The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+) is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 5000 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process.
The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship® (www.jons-online.com) is the official publication of AONN+. It is published 6 times a year and features topics related to patient navigation and survivorship care. JONS offers original research, best practices, interviews, case reports, and study highlights as well as a platform through which navigators can share research and views on navigation and survivorship issues.
CONQUER: The Patient Voice™ magazine (www.conquer-magazine.com) is the AONN+ premier forum for patients with cancer. CONQUER features articles written by and for patients with cancer, survivors, nurse navigators, and other oncology team members. This magazine addresses the issues that patients, their family members, and caregivers face every day in an easy-to-read format. Issues include interviews with patients with cancer, information on access to care, and articles on lifestyle topics such as nutrition, stress management, personal finance, and legal and employer issues. CONQUER also features patient stories that are nominated for the AONN+ HERO OF HOPE™ award, which will be presented at the AONN+ Annual Conference. All Hero stories are compiled in a special issue of CONQUER at the end of the year.
