The Breast Health Clinical Navigator (BHCN) Program is a certification that has been developed by a peer review team of the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC). The purpose of this certification is to set standards of achievement in the professional's role; enhance patient safety, quality of care and delivery of services; and recognize professionals who advance beyond basic knowledge in a field of specialty.
NCBC Navigators understand the importance of knowing their patient to best assess their needs and identify barriers. A 3-tier approach to gathering information from the past, present and future is essential to standardized care. Once barriers and strengths are identified provide the patient medical and emotional care. Items included are related to your scope of practice, referral to other navigators in the fields of identified needs, and assistance to transfer care as needed. Empower the patient by letting them know that there is a team of people ready to support and assist them. This is the See me, Attend my needs, Light my way approach to navigation.
It is hoped that individuals who wish to be certified are currently navigating breast patients as part of their job, and are familiar with many, if not all, aspects of navigation for a breast care/cancer patient. Although experience is not a condition of certification eligibility, the beta testing results to date have revealed that experience has a direct correlation to the level of success of taking the BHCN examination.
BHCN Exam Accreditations:
On July 4, 2023, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) granted accreditation to the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC) for demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. The NCCA Standards were created in 1977 and updated in 2016 to ensure certification programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry. The National Consortium of Breast Centers joins an elite group of more than 130 organizations representing over 315 programs that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation.Click here for the official press release