How oncology nurse navigators help patients overcome barriers to cancer care

Hearing the word “cancer” can stop everything in its tracks. For many patients, the moment they receive a diagnosis is filled with fear, confusion, and unanswered questions. Cancer care can also feel overwhelming, especially when it involves multiple tests, specialists, appointments, and treatment decisions all happening at once.

At moments like this, patients often need someone who can slow things down and help them understand what comes next. That’s where oncology nurse navigators step in. These specially trained nurses help guide patients through cancer care, helping them move forward with support, information, and a plan.

“The first thing is helping them breathe and calming them down psychologically. When people hear the word cancer, they typically forget everything else that’s been said and jump to the worst-case scenario,” says Ella Dugan-Staples, a breast health navigator with Intermountain Health in Montana.

What is an oncology nurse navigator?

An oncology nurse navigator (ONN) is a specialized registered nurse who acts as a personal guide for patients and their families through the complex cancer process after a cancer diagnosis. They coordinate appointments, explain diagnoses and treatment options, connect patients with helpful resources, and provide emotional support from diagnosis through survivorship. Their goal is to make cancer care easier to understand and help patients move forward with confidence.

At Intermountain Health, oncology nurse navigators work closely with physicians, social workers, and other members of the care team to make sure patients receive coordinated care every step of the way.

Oncology nurse navigators help patients move forward after diagnosis 

After a diagnosis, many patients struggle to process everything they hear. Fear and uncertainty can make it hard to absorb information or know what to do next. Navigation gives patients a point person they can reach out to when any questions or needs arise, which helps reduce fear during an uncertain time. They serve as a patient-centered support system that focuses on providing evidence based information that helps patients gain a sense of understanding to enamel them to participate in share decision making about their care.

“That same day, or by the next day at the latest, they have appointments and a plan in place,” says Dugan-Staples.

That plan may include scheduling imaging, arranging genetic testing, coordinating surgical consultations, and helping patients understand what each appointment means.

Oncology nurse navigators make cancer care easier to understand

Cancer treatment can feel like too much information all at once. Patients may hear medical terms they’ve never encountered before, while also receiving advice from friends and family members who mean well but may not understand their specific diagnosis.

That’s why navigators break the process into smaller, manageable steps.

“I talk to them in steps. We’re just going to do one step, and then the next step,” says Dugan-Staples. “If they look at the whole thing at once, it’s way too much,” she says. 

Navigators also help patients understand that every cancer experience is different.

“Their journey is going to be their own, and not all breast cancer is the same. That means treatment is not the same either,” Dugan-Staples says.

By focusing on the next step and explaining what it means, navigators help patients feel more confident and informed about their care.

What barriers to cancer care do nurse navigators help solve?

Cancer care doesn’t just involve medical decisions. Many patients face practical challenges that can make treatment harder to access.

For some patients, especially in rural communities, travel can be one of the biggest barriers.

“We have a lot of rural patients,” says Dugan-Staples. “We have people who travel 200, 300, even 400 miles to come here. For some patients, it can be an 800-mile round trip.”

Navigators work to make those trips as efficient as possible by coordinating appointments, imaging, and consultations so patients can complete multiple steps of care in one visit. They also connect patients with financial resources, transportation help, or lodging when needed.

Behind the scenes, navigators collaborate with social workers and other care team members to make sure patients have access to the services that can help them stay on track with treatment.

How early detection and navigation can change a cancer journey

Dugan-Staples has seen how early detection and coordinated care can change the course of a cancer journey.

She remembers one patient who came in for her first mammogram at age 40. The screening led to a biopsy, and the results showed ductal carcinoma in situ, an early form of breast cancer.

The patient was a mother of three, and the diagnosis was understandably frightening. But because the cancer was found early, the care team was able to move quickly. Genetic testing came back negative, and her surgery consultation was scheduled within a week of the biopsy.

Her treatment included a lumpectomy followed by radiation and hormone therapy.

For the patient and her family, the experience reinforced how important early screening can be. They were grateful the cancer was detected early and appreciated having a care team that helped guide them through each step of treatment.

Oncology nurse navigators also support emotional health

Cancer affects more than just the person diagnosed. It also impacts spouses, children, parents, and friends.

That’s why navigators encourage patients to bring support with them to appointments.

“I always encourage family members or friends to come to every appointment,” says Dugan-Staples. “I don’t want patients going through this by themselves.”

Navigators also help connect patients to support groups and community programs where they can meet others who have gone through similar experiences.

“It takes a team to help a person get through this,” she says.

For many patients, having someone who understands the system and can walk alongside them through treatment can make the journey feel far less lonely.

Why early detection and mammograms matter

One message Dugan-Staples shares often is the importance of regular screening.

“Please, please, please – ladies, get your mammograms every year,” she says.

For many women, annual mammograms begin at age 40, though some people may need to start earlier depending on family history or other risk factors. Staying up to date on all recommended cancer screenings—not just mammograms—is one of the most important steps people can take to catch cancer early, when treatment options are often most effective. Talking with your primary care provider can help determine the right screening plan for you.

At Intermountain Health, oncology nurse navigators help patients overcome barriers that can stand in the way of cancer care. From the moment of diagnosis through treatment and recovery, they help patients understand their options, coordinate care, and connect with the support they need along the way.