Launched 4 years ago, the Queensland Health’s Nurse Navigator program was created for patients with complex care needs and designed as an improved model of care.
The Nurse Navigators are Advanced Practice Nurses and Midwives that help patients with care coordination and care planning.
A Nurse Navigator has the system knowledge and access, clinical skills and time to understand each person’s needs and to partner with them to develop a plan of care that addresses their health needs and respects and values their time and circumstances.
In this segment we hear from Adjunct Professor Shelly Nowlan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for Queensland Health on the inception, evolution and where the program has reached after 4 years, with 400 Nurse Navigators across Queensland.
We also spoke with 2 Nurse Navigators, Nikia Goldsmith, a Complex Chronic Disease Nurse Navigator from Metro North Hospital and Health Service and Shona Fitzpatrick, a General Paediatrics – Rural and Remote Nurse Navigator from Children’s Health Queensland. Shona took us to see one of patients, 3.5 year old Zayden Chen and speak with his mother, Adele. Zayden has a rare genetic condition called GABRB2, with just 18 cases in the world. Shona has helped the family navigate through the health system and for a single medical professional to have a full holistic understanding of Zayden’s needs.
Thanks to our media partners Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association and Australian College of Nursing