The paper “Areas of competence of the Nurse Navigator in Oncology: from theory to practice”, by a nursing team of the Hospital da Luz Lisboa Oncology Centre, conquered the 2 nd Prize in the category of Good Practice, in the 15 th Conference of the Portuguese Oncology Nurse Association (AEOP), which took place between 26 and 28 of May, in Olhão. Nurses Marisa Pinheiro Falé, Graça André, Ana Santos Pereira and Albertina Santos describe, in this paper, the process of implementation of the Nurse Navigator figure in the Oncology Centre where they work, and the respective benefits and challenges. The Nurse Navigator: Coordinates specialized care, in the stages of diagnosis and treatment; Manages the adverse effects of treatment or symptoms associated with the disease; Provides support and information to patients; Integrates and articulates care with the multidisciplinary team of the Oncology Centre, accompanies the patient and family, anticipating and answering their needs, and promoting emotional support throughout the whole course of the oncologic disease. At the Hospital da Luz Lisboa Oncology Centre, the Nurse Navigator intervention is focused on patients with breast and digestive tract pathology and this work is developed on different planes: Nursing consultations before and after surgery and treatment (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy); Liaison and support to hospitalized patients (palliative and surgical-medical care); Follow-up phone consultations; Awareness sessions for health or organization of emotional and psychoeducational support groups. In 2021, the HL Lisboa Oncology Centre nursing team provided 2,593 in-person nursing consultations, 209 inpatient support consultations, and 7,067 phone consultations. The project of expansion of the concept of Nurse Navigator for patients with other oncologic pathologies is presently under development.
