Transplant Nurse Specialist

Major Responsibilities:

• Acts as a resource to donor hospital representatives and staff in the donation and transplantation process by maintaining ongoing communication.
• Collaborates with the transplant team, including coordinator(s), surgeon(s), and other healthcare professionals to facilitate the organ procurement and preservation process. Ensures all necessary supplies are transported to the donor institution.  Ensures all medical and legal requirements are met prior to recovery of organ(s).
• Acts as a representative of the Aurora Health Care when at recovery sites, interacting with staff at various recovery locations. Promotes an understanding of the organ recovery process and utilization.  Promotes and drives quality of the transplant program in the procurement process.
• Serve as a nursing resource during the organ verification and check-in process to include nursing documentation and nurse to nurse communication. 
• Participates in the perfusion and preservation of the organ at the time of excision.
• Assesses the needs of the patient, plan and implement individualized interventions and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan of care. Includes the patient and family in planning and implementing care and develops and maintains a therapeutic relationship throughout the healthcare continuum.  Administers medications as needed including transplant specific medications according to AAH policy.
• Anticipates and recognizes significant changes in the patient’s condition, status, and need for care. Provides ongoing assessment of the patient and takes appropriate actions when changes occur. Anticipates and alters the plan of care as needed, mobilizes appropriate resources, and collaborates with other health care team members to coordinate patient centered care. Implements strategies to reduce patient risk and increase patient safety. Assesses patient and family readiness to learn and individualizes the approach as necessary. Works collaboratively to develop strategies to meet the learning needs of the patient and family.
• Promotes a culture of safety through identifying threats to patient safety and intervening to prevent patient harm. Reports patient safety events and near misses in a timely manner. Seeks to identify potential safety issues and assists in the implementation of corrective actions.
• Participates in quality/process improvement initiatives to improve the functions of the department and the patient care experience. Participates in professional activities which contribute to personal professional development and the development of others. Seeks opportunities to be taught, coached, and mentored. Attends required meetings/educational programs and completes annual competencies in a timely manner.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the team member practices, and
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Education Required:

• Completion of an accredited or approved program in Nursing

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 2 years of experience in clinical (preferable surgical) nursing.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Demonstrates knowledge of advanced anatomy and organ recovery skills.
• Demonstrates progression to provide holistic patient care and the ability to view clinical situations from a patient and family focus.
• Demonstrates progression to recognize situational changes that require unplanned or unanticipated interventions, and responds to situations with confidence, timeliness and flexibility.
• Proficient computer skills, use of electronic mail and electronic medical records systems.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), listening and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates human relation skills with the ability to develop rapport and maintain positive, professional relationships with a variety of patients, team members and physicians. Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with others.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively make critical, independent decisions.
• Excellent organization, prioritization and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrates time management skills with an ability to multi-task and prioritize in an environment with frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrates coordination, collaboration, delegation and team building skills.
• Applies ethical decision making, demonstrates respect and understanding for peers, and other clinical disciplines. Participates as an effective member of the patient care team to formulate an integrated, unbiased, individualized approach to care.
• Demonstrates effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution skills. Promotes collaboration among healthcare team members. Assumes a leadership role in the care team and delegates appropriately to unlicensed personnel.

Certification Addendum

• Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Assumes 24 hour on call responsibilities to facilitate donor recoveries for the transplant program.
• Must be able to stand 100% of the time during recovery.
• Must be able to:

lift up to 50 lbs from floor to waist.

lift up to 20 lbs over the head.

carry up to 40 lbs a reasonable distance.

• Must be able to:

push/pull with 30 lbs of force.

perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs with a second person present.

• May be exposed to blood and body fluids during recoveries thus protective clothing must be worn as appropriate.
• May be exposed to weather, road or other hazards when traveling to other hospitals via small aircraft, ambulance, taxi, van service and/or personal vehicle.
• Operates all equipment essential in performing the job.

• This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Schedule Details/Additional Information