DBS Nurse Navigator Provides Patient Support Throughout Deep Brain Stimulation Journey

What Is a DBS Nurse Navigator?

A DBS Nurse Navigator is a specially trained nurse who coordinates your care, explains each step in plain language, and makes sure you never feel lost in the process. DBS involves multiple appointments, tests, and procedures, and your nurse navigator helps bring all of those pieces together into a clear, manageable plan.

She is often your main point of contact, someone who knows your situation, answers your questions, and checks in on you along the way. She will be beside you guiding your way from your very first appointment, through all of your tests and surgery, then supporting you throughout your recovery. Patients often are pleasantly surprised to even get calls months after, just to say hello and see how everything is going.

Our Nurse Navigator is a key member of our team who allows us to deliver the same high quality of care as academic medical centers, such as UCHealth, but in a smaller, more personalized community hospital experience. One of the many benefits of having a Nurse Navigator is that it allows you to keep your own neurologist and obtain testing in locations convenient to home — or, if you prefer, she can schedule all of your appointments, pre-surgical testing and follow-up programming directly with our Neurosurgery One and AdventHealth Littleton experts.

How Your Nurse Navigator Supports You

Your DBS Nurse Navigator supports you before, during, and after DBS surgery.

Before Surgery

She helps you:

• Understand what DBS is and whether it may be right for you
• Prepare for consultations with your Denver DBS Center neurosurgeon — either Dr. Abhijeet Gummadavelli or Dr. David VanSickle.
• Coordinate required testing, including:
  • Neuropsychology exam
  • On/Off testing (for patients with Parkinson’s disease)
  • Tremor test
  • MRI and CT
• Schedule appointments in a way that minimizes stress and travel when possible
• Answer questions about insurance coverage and prior authorization.
• Schedule a DBS education class that walks through the entire process step by step

She also takes time to get to know you — your support system at home, your concerns, and any challenges that might affect your recovery — so your care team can plan ahead and customize your surgical experience.

Preparing for the Surgical Experience

DBS surgery can sound intimidating, especially if you’ve never had brain surgery before. Your Neurosurgery One Nurse Navigator helps reduce fear by explaining:

• How to prepare physically and emotionally before surgery to optimize your experience and outcome
• What happens on surgery day, from check-in to recovery
• What the operating room experience is like
• What your incisions will look like and how to care for them
• What activity restrictions to expect afterward

Knowing what’s coming often makes it feel much less frightening.

After DBS Surgery

Your nurse navigator doesn’t disappear once surgery is over. She:

• Calls to check on you after each procedure
• Helps coordinate follow-up appointments and DBS programming
• Answers questions about healing, symptoms, or concerns
• Checks in again months later as you adjust to programming
• Remains available long-term if questions come up

Many patients say this ongoing connection helps them feel supported—not forgotten—after a major procedure.

How to Get the Most Out of Your DBS Nurse Navigator

Your DBS Nurse Navigator is here for you. Some simple ways to make the most of her support include:

• Connect early. Although you may not meet her in person until your first clinic visit at Neurosurgery One, connecting with her before that appointment can help relieve worry and help you arrange the necessary testing for immediately after your appointment or even on the same day (especially helpful if you are travelling to Denver). With the help of your nurse navigator, patients can often go from first appointment to surgery within weeks, not months or even years required at other DBS programs in the region. Request an appointment with the DBS Nurse Navigator.
• Ask questions early and often. There are no “silly” questions.
• Write things down. Bring a list of concerns to calls or appointments.
• Include family or caregivers. With your permission, she’s happy to speak with loved ones.
• Reach out when something feels off. If you’re unsure whether something is normal, call. She will respond within 24 hours during clinic hours, often within a few hours depending on the urgency of the issue and whether she is helping a patient.
• Be honest. Sharing worries, home-care challenges, or travel concerns helps her help you.

You don’t need to manage DBS on your own — that’s exactly why this role exists.

A More Personal DBS Experience

At Neurosurgery One, our DBS program is designed to feel personal, not overwhelming.

Having a dedicated nurse navigator means you’re not navigating this journey alone. You have a familiar voice, a consistent point of contact, and someone whose focus is making this journey as smooth and reassuring as possible.

If you’re considering DBS or are scheduled for surgery, your nurse navigator is here to walk beside you every step of the way.