Registered Nurse (RN) - Transplant Coordinator, Liver Transplant Program, FT, Days

About the role

Facilitate and coordinate all transplant-specific phases of care and processes for transplant recipients. Maintain documentation of requirements for certified transplant centers and collaborate with team members to deliver individualized, multidisciplinary patient care. Participate in quality improvement efforts aligned with program, department, and hospital strategic plans.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for patients and families navigating complex healthcare settings by providing resources and coordinating care.
• Empower patients and families to participate in family-centered rounds and medical decision-making.
• Empower patients and families to problem-solve and become independent in managing care for the transplant patient at home.
• Maintain thorough, accurate, and timely electronic documentation of all patient encounters to ensure safe transitions between transplant/donation phases of care.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, multidisciplinary team members, referring and primary care providers, consultants, payors, and other healthcare providers regarding clinical findings and the plan of care in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with nursing staff, social work, and other healthcare providers to establish and implement patient care plans according to current standards of care.
• Maintain professional knowledge and clinical ability to evaluate and treat complex patients in specialty areas including abdominal transplantation.
• Interpret relevant clinical data and actively participate on the medical decision-making care team.
• Ensure comprehensive healthcare needs (medical, psychosocial, and economic) are continually monitored and addressed.
• Monitor and routinely update the patient’s status on the national registry waiting list.
• Remain current on clinical policy, guidelines, and regulatory changes; maintain knowledge of transplant center outcomes and performance standards.
• Provide individualized patient/family education throughout all phases of care and assess the effectiveness of education provided.
• Plan, conduct, and evaluate educational materials and activities for patients and families in response to identified needs.
• Educate candidates/families about the evaluation process, regulations, allocation, pre-transplant/donation listing, transplant process, confidentiality, post-operative care, infection and rejection surveillance, immunizations, financial issues, and responsibilities throughout the transplant process.
• Assess candidate and family educational deficits related to the transplant process and reinforce education and follow-up requirements for successful outcomes.
• Participate in and promote continuing education around transplant care; contribute to improvement initiatives and projects within the institution.
• Serve as a resource to internal and external organizations to provide transplant-specific education.
• Demonstrate knowledge and compliance with institutional policies and regulatory oversight requirements for transplant centers, including participation in survey readiness and site visit processes.
• Facilitate and coordinate the evaluation and listing of potential transplant candidates.
• Identify requirements and provide oversight of the candidate evaluation process; interpret serological results and their implications for transplant.
• Gather and communicate serological results and blood type in accordance with regulatory requirements; identify possible co-morbidities and contraindications for transplant.
• Function as a candidate advocate by applying knowledge of growth, development, educational, and cultural background during interactions.
• Collect and evaluate medical, psychosocial, and financial data for review by the transplant team; communicate candidate status and evaluation outcomes to stakeholders.
• Monitor and coordinate care of candidates awaiting transplantation; ensure monitoring per transplant center-specific standards.
• Identify and respond to psychosocial and economic needs of transplant candidates during the pre-transplant period; maintain and update candidate listing status per regulatory regulations.
• Participate in the transplant/donation process according to specific standards; share pertinent recipient information including ABO compatibility with the transplant team.
• Facilitate admission or transfer of patients to the transplant facility; notify the transplant team of pending procedures; remove recipients from the list according to regulatory guidelines.
• Demonstrate understanding of post-transplant/donation management including medications, complications, interventions, and discharge planning.
• Coordinate care of transplant recipients in the outpatient setting to achieve optimal physical, social, and emotional rehabilitation.
• Identify complications and consider interventions with the transplant team; coordinate discharge planning for continuity of care.
• Assess recipient compliance with medication and medical regimens; collaborate with the transplant team to maintain compliance.
• Collect and review data pertinent to recipient/donor health and organ function; communicate adjustments in patient plans and drug therapy as ordered.
• Arrange for consults, diagnostic testing, and hospitalization when indicated; coordinate emergent evaluation of transplant recipients when needed.
• Assist in reporting required data to regulatory bodies.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Master’s degree in Nursing preferred.
• Experience: No experience required. Two (2) years RN experience in a transplant program preferred.
• In Lieu Of: A nursing diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) may be considered if the applicant has previous transplant nursing experience and signs a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to enroll in an accredited BSN or MSN program within one year and obtain a BSN or MSN degree within four (4) years.

Certifications, Registrations, and Licenses

• Holds a current RN compact/multistate license recognized by the NCSBN Compact State or is licensed to practice as an RN in the state where working.
• Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator or Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTC or CCTN) required or able to be completed within 2 years of hire.