MOLINE — Her job lets her do what many of her colleagues wish they had time to do.
Cassie Burns, 33, of Milan, works as a clinical nurse specialist at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Moline.
"I'm a nurse navigator who works with breast-cancer patients and with people having high risks for cancer," she said.
Beginning with a patient's first day of treatment, Burns goes with the patient to all appointments, even if they are with people who aren't affiliated with Trinity, she said.
It gives Burns the chance to make much more of a personal connection, which is something most nurses wish they had time for, she said.
She gives patients all the information she can give them about what threatens their health.
Previously, Burns had been an oncology nurse for 11 years, starting right after graduating from Black Hawk College. She accepted her navigator position five years ago.
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Navigators are a relatively new position that was created within the past 10 years or so, she said.
"Most hospitals find that it improves quality," Burns said. "It's an outside-of-the-box nurse. It's what you make of it. It's making sure people have what they need and that all the physicians are on the same page."
Burns said she had thought about becoming a pediatric nurse, but she switched to health-care nursing after learning more about it.
"It's different to care for these patients," Burns said. "They have different attitudes toward the process, and lots of needs that I get to help."
"I love this job," she said. "I really like to come to work. I enjoy it, and don't dread it all. I really don't know what I would do without it."
Her work schedule allows her to do a lot of community outreach, too.
"I will do a lot of education about breast-cancer screening," she said.
She has spoken at programs sponsored by churches and at other events with attendance ranging from five to 20 people. She's available to speak to any size group; call her at 309-779-5080 to set something up.
Burns also serves as an education ambassador for a national nonprofit organization named Bright Pink, joining it about four years ago.