In February 2019, my colleagues and I published a retrospective analysis of patient-reported satisfaction comparing those who had contact with an oncology nurse navigator (ONN) and those who did not. We analyzed surveys from patients with outpatient oncology infusion or radiation oncology visits in a 24-month period. First, we sorted the surveys into two groups—self-reported ONN contact (n = 315) and self-reported no contact with an ONN (n = 172)—and compared satisfaction.

As healthcare institutions become ever more complex and our focus on patient experience expands, nurses are leading and participating in research studies, evidence-based practice (EBP) projects, and quality improvement (QI) initiatives with a goal of improving patient outcomes. Research, EBP, and QI have subtle differences and frequent overlap, which can make it a challenge for nurses to identify the best option to investigating a clinical problem.