Nurse Navigation Services

Meet our Nurse Navigators

Karen Aaron, RN, BSN, OCN, CN, BN, Oncology Certified Nurse, has more than 25 years experience at Tahoe Forest Hospital. Karen has made enormous contributions to patient care efforts here, earning her Nurse of the Year recognition. She specializes in medical and radiation oncology nursing. Karen understands the key to recovery is establishing relationships with patients, and supporting them throughout their illness.

Kim Osburn, BSN, RN, has her BSN from Indiana University and has worked in Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Medical ICU, and pediatric and adult PACU.

The personal care is so outstanding.

How can a Nurse Navigator help you?

Education

Help you understand your diagnosis and answer clinical questions
Support in understanding medical terminology and medical test results
Give you symptom management tools

Appointments

Assure appropriate and timely appointments
Ensure clinicians have appropriate information for visit
Assist with efficient scheduling of needed exams

Referrals

Coordinate resources including support, nutrition, massage and integrative therapies
Introduce you to members of your treatment team

Answer questions

Help you through issues that may arise, including transportation, finances, insurance, fear or anxiety, family support, communication

Help you find your way

Your treatment journey will have many steps that may take you to different locations and specialists throughout the health system

Be your advocate

Nurse navigators are champions for their patients, making sure they get everything they need for their treatment. As your journey evolves, your nurse navigator will remain a constant throughout your experience.

What is the Nurse Navigator program?

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, patients are forced to deal with a host of emotional, logistical and financial issues, making it difficult to focus on their treatment and their return to health. The Nurse Navigator Program at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center is designed help patients move easily through the process, so they can focus on healing.

Our nurse navigator is responsible for facilitating timely and appropriate care. She is there to provide support to you and your family, before during and after treatment. Our Nurse Navigator knows that your well-being and peace of mind are an essential part of your treatment.