Written by: Bernadette Lucas-Burch, RN, BSN, CBCN, ONN-CG
Life presents many opportunities that bring moments of reflection, sadness and joy. As a navigator I experience all of these emotions coupled with the privilege of intersecting my life with many patients who are willing to share their journey with me.
It all began when I applied for an Interventional Radiology Nurse position and was awarded the job. Little did I know that the world of imaging would become a place where I would grow in knowledge and learn new skills, while getting a glimpse into the variety of roles that make up an imaging team. Radiologists, technologists, sonographers and nurses create the perfect balance to meet the needs of patients in radiology, nuclear medicine, MRI, CT, interventional radiology and mammography.
Getting My Breast Center Interested and Involved
Medical imaging has a profound impact on patient care in diagnosis accuracy, early stage detection, monitoring treatment response and minimally invasive procedures. Embracing this specialty came easy. While rotating through our breast center, it became evident that women and occasionally men, required support, education and a consistent, compassionate person to help them each step of the way through the breast health continuum. Fear of the unknown is commonly felt walking through the breast center doors leading to anxiety and distress. Our team knew that adding Breast Health Navigation Services would offer patients another link to the supportive chain surrounding them, tailoring the individualized needs of each patient.
Navigation was a fairly new concept during this time, with the value of the role becoming well received and validated across healthcare systems nationwide. Depending on the organizational program structure, the job could be filled by technologists, nurses or a lay person. Once our breast center created and posted a position, I knew becoming a breast health nurse navigator was the perfect fit for me, so I applied for a transfer from my inpatient Oncology Manager role. It was so exciting when it was awarded to me, and I realized that building my knowledge base was critical to ensure success and make certain patients receive up-to-date, accurate information.
My Journey
I started by partnering with the Radiologist Director of our breast center to glean from her expertise. Next, I researched societal guidelines from the American College of Radiology, Society of Breast Imaging, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American Cancer Society and densebreastinfo.org. In addition, I attended the annual NCBC conference and was fortunate to be in the last EduCare cohort of Judy Kneece, which was a 4-day, onsite breast health navigator training course.
Day one in my role was filled with reward as patients and their families were provided education, support, guidance and care coordination. There were challenges along the way that molded me. However, learning life gems from patients who walked with grace and courage kept me grounded and grateful. Time gave way to growth and experience. Keeping myself immersed in all things related to breast health and breast cancer, allowed me to build upon my foundation, enhance my competency and skillfully deliver patient-centered care. The entirety of my experiences has brought great joy in serving others and making a difference!
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We hope that reading this blog has inspired you to explore this unique role! If so, we have a free "Next Steps" checklist that you can download to help you get started on your own path to becoming a certified Breast Health Navigator!
