All in a Day's Work: Kathie Shemon, RNC, Care Navigator Nurse

Article by: Star Tribune Sales and Marketing
Updated: December 16, 2009 - 11:55 AM

Kathie Shemon, RNC, a Care Navigator Nurse with Allina Home & Community Services, talks about her job.

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Photo: Photo by: Tom Witta,

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Q: What's a typical workday like for you?

I receive calls about a variety of needs, such as home care for wound care or physical therapy, hospice, medical equipment or private duty help. I collect all the information and make the calls to locate the resources if Allina doesn't have them. I have to be a good listener and be able to problem-solve.

Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?

I try to figure out what people need to maintain a good quality of life, be safe and maximize their independence. I help to make the transition from one type of care setting to another as smooth as possible.

Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?

I interact with anyone who's involved with the person who needs care or who needs some type of service: doctors, social workers, nurses, community services staff, clients and their family members.

Q: Why did you become a care navigator nurse?

My previous position here was eliminated through reorganization, so I was at the right place at the right time when this program started about a year and a half ago.

Q: What do you like about your work?

I have been a nurse for 40 years, and I use all of my nursing knowledge. I also get to be a detective part of the time. It's fun, it's challenging and I know that it works. It's really rewarding to hear on the other end of the phone the relief that people feel to know that somebody is going to try to help them, that they're not alone out there anymore.