Community Health Nurse Navigator

The Community Health Nurse Navigator (CHN) provides clinical and public health nursing expertise to support community-based cancer screening, navigation, education, care coordination, and quality improvement initiatives across Minnesota communities.

This position blends community-based nursing practice, patient navigation, population health, and systems-level quality improvement to strengthen equitable access to cancer screening and follow-up care.

The CHN will initially focus on supporting the Mobile Colorectal Cancer Community Screening Program through screening eligibility assessment, clinical consultation, results communication, triage, and care coordination for individuals receiving colorectal cancer (CRC) screening services in community settings.

As the program expands, this role will support additional evidence-based community cancer screening initiatives, including breast, cervical, lung, prostate, liver, and other preventive health screening efforts. In partnership with Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) leadership and community partners, the CHN will help build scalable community-based screening and navigation infrastructure that improves screening completion across diverse populations.

In addition, this role will partner with primary care clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to support improvements in cancer screening quality metrics, referral pathways, follow-up systems, and equitable access to care.

This is a field-forward public health nursing role. The CHN will regularly attend community outreach and mobile screening events, travel locally and regionally across Minnesota, and conduct on-site visits to clinics and community partners. Responsibilities may include transporting supplies, lifting materials up to 25 pounds, and assisting with event setup and coordination.

There will also be opportunities to contribute to program evaluation, public health research, scholarship, and dissemination activities related to cancer prevention and screening initiatives. Ongoing professional development and Continuing Medical Education (CME) will be supported and expected to ensure the CHN remains current on evolving screening guidelines, evidence-based practices, and advancements in cancer prevention and navigation.

Community-Based Public Health Nursing & Field Engagement (25%)

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community-based organizations and outreach partners supporting cancer prevention initiatives.
• Regularly attend and provide clinical oversight at mobile screening events and community outreach activities, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Conduct on-site visits to partner clinics and FQHCs across Minnesota to support cancer screening initiatives.
• Deliver culturally responsive health education related to cancer prevention, screening, and follow-up care.
• Provide real-time clinical consultation during screening events.
• Ensure adherence to public health nursing standards, standing orders, and scope of practice in community-based settings.
• Support culturally responsive and trauma-informed engagement strategies.

Screening Eligibility & Clinical Consultation (25%)

• Conduct screening eligibility assessments using current evidence-based screening guidelines.
• Review participant health histories to determine appropriate screening pathways and referral needs.
• Provide clinical consultation regarding high-risk findings, abnormal results, and escalation needs.
• Assist in development and maintenance of clinical workflows, standing protocols, and navigation processes in collaboration with physician leadership.
• Monitor updates to national screening guidelines and integrate changes into program operations and workflows.
• Support clinical decision-making related to screening appropriateness and follow-up recommendations.

Results Communication, Triage & Care Coordination (20%)

• Communicate screening results to participants in a clinically appropriate and culturally responsive manner.
• Provide education regarding abnormal findings, follow-up recommendations, and next steps in care.
• Coordinate diagnostic referrals, specialty appointments, and follow-up services with healthcare partners.
• Assess social and structural barriers impacting screening and follow-up completion, including transportation, insurance, language access, and healthcare navigation challenges.
• Collaborate with community and healthcare partners to reduce barriers to timely follow-up care.
• Triage and escalate participants requiring urgent or medically complex follow-up.
• Serve as a clinical liaison between community members, Community Health Workers, MCC staff, and healthcare providers.
• Provide clinical guidance and support to Community Health Workers involved in outreach and navigation activities.
• Document clinical interactions, referrals, and follow-up activities in EPIC, REDCap, Box, and other tracking systems.

Practice Facilitation & Education (15%)

• Partner with primary care clinics and FQHCs to support improvements in cancer screening quality metrics and follow-up systems.
• Assist clinic teams in identifying workflow gaps related to screening eligibility, referrals, documentation, patient outreach, and follow-up processes.
• Support implementation of systems-level improvements to increase screening rates and reduce loss to follow-up.
• Collaborate with clinic leadership and partners to review screening and follow-up data and identify disparities and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide education on evidence-based screening guidelines and best practices for healthcare providers, staff, Community Health Workers, and community members.
• Serve as a resource on screening navigation, care coordination, and equitable access strategies.

Administrative (15%)

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of clinical interactions, screening outcomes, referrals, and follow-up activities.
• Track screening completion, referral outcomes, navigation metrics, and quality improvement indicators.
• Assist with identifying funding opportunities and contributing to grant writing, proposal development, and grant-related reporting to support program sustainability and expansion.
• Assist in preparing reports and program updates for grant funders, institutional leadership, and community partners.
• Support development of training materials, workflows, documentation templates, and navigation protocols.
• Participate in internal team meetings, planning efforts, and program development activities.
• Contribute to program evaluation, scholarship, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Support expansion of community-based cancer screening and navigation initiatives across additional cancer types.

Other duties as assigned.

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials.

Required Qualifications

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of Minnesota.
• Bachelor's degree in Nursing with at least four years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least six years.
• Experience in public health, community health, oncology, primary care, or patient navigation.
• Experience working with underserved populations experiencing healthcare access barriers.
• Experience coordinating care or referrals across healthcare systems.
• Proficiency in electronic health records and data tracking systems.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel regionally across Minnesota.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends to support community-based events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in cancer screening programs, oncology navigation, or preventive health initiatives.
• Experience working with FQHCs, community clinics, or safety-net healthcare systems.
• Experience supporting quality improvement, practice facilitation, or population health initiatives.
• Familiarity with evidence-based cancer screening guidelines and referral pathways.
• Passion for engaging with people from diverse cultures and willingness to develop programs that meet the needs of priority communities.
• Experience assessing and addressing social determinants of health impacting healthcare access and follow-up.
• Experience collaborating with Community Health Workers or interdisciplinary outreach teams.
• Experience contributing to public health research, program evaluation, or scholarship.
• Bilingual in Somali, Spanish, Hmong, or another language commonly spoken within Minnesota's diverse communities.
• Strong organizational, communication, relationship-building, and systems-thinking skills.

The Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) is an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated to cancer research, education, and patient care for the citizens of Minnesota and the surrounding region. Since the time of the first award in 1997, there has been consistent growth of the membership and research base, enabling our center to further advance our knowledge and enhance care for our catchment area. We are driven to be the choice academic healthcare environment for patients, clinicians, scientists and students who seek exceptional, compassionate, precision cancer therapy; innovative clinical trials and prevention programs; cutting-edge research opportunities; and outstanding advanced education.

Pay Range: $75,000 - $95,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.