Frances Mary Johnson

Title : The process of oncology nurse practitioner patient navigation: A grounded theory approach towards a navigation theory

Abstract:

Nurse practitioner (NP) navigation, in general, has been shown to achieve cost effective quality care, while saving millions of dollars. Research has shown that oncology nurse practitioner navigators’ improve clinical outcomes.  For purposes of this study, oncology NP navigators are nurse practitioners with a certification in oncology who utilize navigation processes to care for cancer patients along any aspect of the cancer care continuum. Navigation process is defined as “a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end”. The purpose of this study was to answer the question: What processes do oncology nurse practitioner navigators use in caring for cancer patients? In this parent study, twenty oncology nurse practitioner navigators were interviewed through the use of a semi-structured interview utilizing grounded theory methodology. This resulted in a well-defined set of concepts and theoretical framework for the process of ONP navigation which lays the groundwork for program evaluation and role delineation. This presentation will briefly describe the study, as well as the major theoretical concepts, and assumptions. This presentation places the theory within a metaparadigm perspective suggesting a structured framework and worldview for ongoing research and clinical practice. Additionally suggestions for research designs that can be used for validation of this navigation theory are presented. This research can serve to provide valuable insight in designing studies that provide a link between theory and practice in a cohesive manner, the goal of which is to identify global practices within a structured framework, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Audience Take Away:

• Delineate the major concepts, and theoretical assumptions of the ONP navigation process
• Discuss how the navigation process can be viewed globally within its metaparadigm components
• Define key areas of the theory in need of further research
• Give examples of the hypothesis testing and related statistical analysis of significant research questions

Biography:

Frances Mary Johnson has completed her PhD from Texas Woman’s University, Masters in Nursing from Boston University, and BSN form Fairfield University in Connecticut. She currently practices as a Nurse Practitioner with Privia Medical Group in Texas City, Texas.. She has published 7 papers and co-authored a book chapter on patient navigation. She has presented abstracts derived from this study at the 42^nd and 43^rd  and 44^th Oncology Nursing Society National Conferences pertaining to “Carving the ONP Navigation Role”, and “Triage an Essential Component of the Navigation Process”, as well as “Towards a Theory of Navigation”. She has worked as an advanced practice nurse for 20 years, and worked in both primary care and oncology. Her areas of interest include chemotherapy, cancer survivorship, program development, patient navigation systems, as well as all aspects of hematology.