Nurse Navigator (IBD)- Job Opening

Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses (COGI) is a national patient advocacy organization committed to improving the quality of life for patients disproportionately affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), digestive disorders, and associated chronic illnesses.

Through Community, Research, Education, and Advocacy, COGI works to dismantle inequities in care, amplify lived experience as expertise, and ensure patients have access to culturally responsive resources and support.

Learn more at: www.colorofgi.org

Position: Nurse Navigator (IBD)

Department: Patient Support & Community Engagement
Reports To: Area Director of Midwest and Southern Regions  
Location: Virtual (limited travel may be requested for conferences or community events)
Job Type: Part-Time (20–25 hours per week)

Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Position Summary

The Nurse Navigator (IBD) plays a critical role in COGI’s patient support ecosystem by serving as a trusted clinical-community bridge for patients once they enter the COGI network. This role centers on education, navigation, engagement, and connection, ensuring patients understand their condition, available resources, and care pathways—while also informing COGI’s data, research, and advocacy priorities.

The Nurse Navigator supports patients across multiple touchpoints, including membership intake, education, savings programs, clinical research opportunities, and referrals to healthcare professionals. This position also contributes to data reporting and insights related to patient engagement, symptoms, and recurring needs within the community.

Key Responsibilities

Patient Community & Navigation Support

• Serve as a point of contact for patients who opt into Nurse Navigator support upon joining COGI.
• Review and follow up on Patient Intake Forms to assess needs, symptoms, barriers to care, and priorities.
• Provide non-clinical medical navigation support, education, and resource guidance (does not replace medical care).
• Support patients in understanding care pathways, terminology, and next steps in their IBD journey.
• Maintain a compassionate, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed approach to patient engagement.

Education & Resource Development

• Support the development and dissemination of IBD education materials, including:
  • Pamphlets
  • Digital resources
  • Toolkits
  • Study and research opportunity summaries
• Participate in or support Meet-The-Medic programming by:
  • Helping curate discussion topics
  • Supporting patient preparedness and follow-up questions
• Ensure educational materials reflect patient-friendly language, equity considerations, and real-world needs.

Patient Savings & Access Support

• Assist patients in understanding and navigating patient savings programs, copay support, and assistance resources.
• Provide high-level guidance on how to access available financial support tools (without providing insurance or financial advice).
• Identify recurring access barriers to inform COGI advocacy and partnership strategies.

Clinical Research & Engagement

• Support clinical research engagement efforts, including:
  • Educating patients about research participation opportunities
  • Supporting trust-building and informed decision-making
  • Collaborating with internal teams on study recruitment initiatives
• Provide patient-centered insights to inform research partners and internal program design.

Care Network & Provider Connections

• Help expand and maintain referral connections to allied healthcare professionals, including:
  • Wound care nurses
  • Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs)
  • Dietitians
  • Other supportive care providers
• Support patients in understanding the role of multidisciplinary care in IBD management.

Data, Reporting & Insights

• Track and document patient engagement touchpoints, including:
  • Common symptoms
  • Recurring needs
  • Frequently requested resources
• Support the development of data reports that capture:
  • Engagement trends
  • Unmet needs
  • Community-level insights
• Collaborate with internal teams to translate patient insights into programmatic, advocacy, and educational opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with community, advocacy, research, communications, and events teams.
• Share patient-centered insights to inform strategy, storytelling, and equity-focused initiatives.
• Support organizational efforts such as telethons, campaigns, patient panels, and conferences as needed.

• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license required (BSN preferred).
• Experience in IBD, gastroenterology, chronic illness, or patient navigation strongly preferred.
• Experience working with historically excluded or underserved communities is highly desired.
• Strong communication, empathy, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to translate complex medical information into patient-friendly language.
• Comfort working in a virtual, mission-driven environment.
• Experience with data tracking, reporting, or patient engagement platforms is a plus.
• Alignment with COGI’s mission and values, including respect for lived experience as expertise.

This role is:

• Patient-centered
• Educational and navigational
• Equity-driven
• Community-embedded

This role is not:

• A replacement for direct clinical care
• A provider of medical advice or diagnosis
• A case manager tied to a specific health system

The Nurse Navigator (IBD) strengthens COGI’s ability to:

• Build trust with patients
• Improve education and engagement
• Identify systemic gaps in care
• Support research and advocacy with real-world insight
• Ensure patients feel seen, supported, and informed

Please click the button below to submit your cover letter and CV/Resume