The New Mexico Cancer Patient Navigation Network (NMCPNN) works collaboratively to further the goals of the New Mexico Cancer Plan and to align efforts with the American Cancer Society National Navigation Roundtable, Susan G. Komen, National Consortium of Breast Centers and the Oncology Nursing Society. The NMCPNN strives to provide clinical oncology nurse navigators, social work navigators and patient navigators with clear information regarding the Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice. This includes the knowledge and skills all professional navigators (regardless of licensing status, or a nurse, social worker or a patient navigator) should possess to deliver high-quality, competent and ethical services to people impacted by cancer. The NMCPNN is also a Local Navigator Network of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators.
For more information on this workgroup, contact Elba L. Saavedra Ferrer at elsaave@salud.unm.edu or Sandra E. Arellano at Sandra.Arellano@lovelace.com.
Resources for Patient Navigators
Training
George Washington University New Oncology Patient Navigator Training: The Fundamentals: https://cme.smhs.gwu.edu/gw-cancer-center-/content/new-oncology-patient-navigator-training-fundamentals
Oncology Nursing Society Oncology Nurse Navigator Toolkit: https://www.ons.org/toolkits/ons-oncology-nurse-navigator-toolkit
Patient Navigator Training Collaborative – Patient Navigation & Community Health Worker Training: https://patientnavigatortraining.org/courses/
Colorado Health Navigator Competency Assessment: https://tinyurl.com/yc3zwh25
Certification
Organization | Website | Suggested Role | Cost | Length | Online or In-Person |
Oncology Nursing Society Certification Resources | Link to website | Clinical Nursing | $300-$420 | 3-Hour Online Test, Multiple Choice | Online – Testing Application and Eligibility Requirements Necessary |
National Consortium of Breast Centers, Various Certifications Available | Link to website | CN-BM = Certified Navigator Breast Management (All Social Workers and Managers of Navigators) CN-BA = Certified Navigator Breast Advocate (All Volunteer/Lay Navigators) | $295 | 3-Hour Online or In-Person: | Online and In-Person Options Available, Advanced Registration Required, Testing Application and Eligibility Requirements Necessary |
Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators Foundation for Learning Certification (AONN+ FFL) | Link to website | ONN OPN-CG | $295 | – | Online |
NCCA Nationally Accredited BHCN™ Breast Health Clinical Navigator™ Certification Program | Link to website | Breast Health Clinical Navigator (BHCN™) Breast Patient Navigator Certification (BPNC™) | $295 | In-Person: March 31, 2026 | In-person |
Conferences
March 28-30, 2026 – NCoBC 2026 Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference
Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Ohio
Registration: https://www.breastcare.org/conference-ncbc/
Support Groups and Events for Cancer Patients
Cancer Services of New Mexico Family Cancer Retreat
https://cancerservicesnm.org/new/family-cancer-retreat/
Radiant Healing Together In-Person Events
https://radianthealingtogether.com/
Comadre a Comadre Spanish-Speaking Support Group
Flyer for Winter/Spring 2026 series to be added soon.
Patient Navigation Reimbursement
American Cancer Society Leadership in Oncology Navigation (LION) Professional Navigation Payment Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/online-documents/en/pdf/brochures/acs-lion-pin-payment-faq-07-22-24.pdf
Recent Publications
“Review of Proposed Rule for CY 2024 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule” Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School, Read Here: Review of CY 2024 PFS Proposed Rule CHLPI 07-20-23
“Environmental Exposure Assessment: Considerations for Oncology Nurses” Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Read Here: https://www.ons.org/pubs/article/251621/preview
“Patient Assessment: Using the Oncology Nurse Navigator Patient Assessment for Rural and Other Resource-Poor Settings” Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Read Here: https://www.ons.org/cjon/25/6/patient-assessment-using-oncology-nurse-navigator-patient-assessment-rural-and-other
“National Patient Navigation Leadership Summit (NPNLS): Measuring the Impact and Potential of Patient Navigation, Supplement to Cancer” American Cancer Society Cancer Journal, Read Here: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/10970142/2011/117/S15
“Establishing Effective Patient Navigation Programs in Oncology” National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Read Here: http://tinyurl.com/yc6w9ubk
“A Decade Later: The State of Patient Navigation in Cancer” – American Cancer Society Cancer Journal, Read Here: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/10970142/2022/128/S13
George Washington Cancer Center Newsletters; Cancer Control TAP E-Newsletter and Patient Navigation and Survivorship E-News, Subscribe Here: https://cancercontroltap.smhs.gwu.edu/newsletters Read Archived Newsletters Here: https://cancercontroltap.smhs.gwu.edu/cancer-control-tap-newsletter-archive
“Oncology Nurse Navigator Roles Are Transforming Cancer Outcomes for Underserved Rural Patients” – Oncology Nursing Society Voice, Read Here: https://tinyurl.com/4t9z7c7k
Patient Navigation Acuity Monograph (PNAM©)
National Headlines
“Biden Cancer Moonshot Announces Commitments from Leading Health Insurers and Oncology Providers to Make Navigation Services Accessible to More than 150 Million Americans”, Read Here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2024/03/08/fact-sheet-biden-cancer-moonshot-announces-commitments-from-leading-health-insurers-and-oncology-providers-to-make-navigation-services-accessible-to-more-than-150-million-americans/
“CMS Includes Reimbursement for Oncology Patient Navigation in CY24 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposal”, Read Here: https://pressroom.cancer.org/releases?item=1241
“A Profession to Put on the Map” George Washington Cancer Center, Read Here: A Profession to Put on the Map | School of Medicine and Health Sciences (gwu.edu)
“The American Cancer Society Awards $4.2 Million in Grants for Patient Navigation to Hospitals Across the Country” – American Cancer Society, Read Here: https://pressroom.cancer.org/releases?item=1126
Research
“Psychometric Evaluation of the Oncology Nurse Navigator Patient Assessment (ONNPA)”, Oncology Nurse Navigator Patient Assessment, Learn More Here: https://onnpa-research.org/current-study
Patient Navigation Practice Competencies
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators – Professional Oncology Navigation Task Force (AONN – PONT) Competencies: https://www.jons-online.com/issues/2022/march-2022-vol-13-no-3/4399-oncology-navigation-standards-of-professional-practice
Oncology Nurse Society (ONS) Oncology Navigator Core Competencies: 2017ONNcompetencies.pdf (ons.org)
George Washington Cancer Institute – Core Competencies for Non-Clinically Licensed Patient Navigators: Core Competencies for Non-Clinically Licensed Patient Navigators (gwu.edu)
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Standards and Resources: http://tinyurl.com/2pksbykb