Transplant Coordinator

Overview

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health brings together two award winning health systems in Washington state CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason. As one integrated health system with the most patient access points in western Washington our team includes 18,000 staff and nearly 5,000 employed physicians and affiliated providers. At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health you will find the safest and highest quality of care provided by our expert, compassionate medical care team at 11 hospitals and nearly 300 sites throughout the greater Puget Sound region.

Responsibilities

Virginia Mason Medical Center, was recognized among the Best Hospitals in Washington state by U.S. News & World Report. We have a fantastic opportunity available for nurses interested in solid organ transplant. Our Kidney & Pancreas transplant department has a new full time (40 hours per week) role available for a RN Transplant Coordinator. 

This position coordinates all aspects of renal and pancreas transplants, as well as provides support to the department in the day to day functioning of the transplant section. The coordinator functions as a case manager, incorporating all elements of Virginia Mason's Nursing Professional Practice Model into caring for patients from initial referral, through the transplant evaluation process, during the inpatient hospital stay post-transplant and during the transition back to the referring physician. Essential duties of this role: Performs pre-transplant duties such as communicating with patients,referring physicians, and dialysis units on the status of patients within the transplant process.

Educating patients and caregivers in multiple states across many time zones on the transplant process. Coordinates all aspects of patient evaluations including medical testing, follow up, and care coordination. Collaborates with Virginia Mason providers, social workers, financial coordinators, and dialysis units in multiple states to formulate a plan for transplantation and the post-operative phase. Completes inpatient rounds and discharge planning on transplant patients; acts as a liaison between inpatient/outpatient areas and other disciplines; Performs post-operative duties in the clinic to assess patient progress after transplant.

Facilitates safe transitions and plans of care for patients to return home to their referring providers care. Supports the patient and families experience through provision of multidisciplinary support groups both pre and post operatively, facilitation of education classes for recipients and family members. Conducts outreach and education to referring providers and teams. Maintains strict adherence to UNOS and CMS regulatory standards through practice and documentation Performs cross coverage care to Living Donor and Post-Transplant patients that includes phone triage, clinic visit education, and communication with providers regarding patient testing results.

The RN Transplant Coordinator practices the following:  Clinical Judgement: incorporates clinical reasoning into care delivery, which includes clinical decision-making, critical thinking, and a global grasp of the patient situation, coupled with nursing skills acquired through a process of integrating formal and informal experiential knowledge and evidence- based guidelines.  Clinical Inquiry: exhibits the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating practice and providing informed practice changes. Creates practice changes through research utilization and experiential learning while leveraging the methods and tools of the Virginia Mason Production System (VMPS) to continuously improve the care delivery system.  Caring Practices: demonstrates behaviors that create a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment for patients and staff, with the aim of promoting comfort and healing and preventing unnecessary suffering. Includes, but is not limited to, vigilance, engagement, and responsiveness of caregivers, including family and healthcare personnel  Collaboration: works with others (e.g., patients, families, healthcare providers) in a way that promotes/encourages each person's contributions toward achieving optimal/realistic patient/family goals. Involves intra- and inter-disciplinary work with colleagues and community Advocacy and Moral Agency: works on another's behalf and represents the concerns of the patient/family and nursing staff; serving as a moral agent in identifying and helping to resolve ethical and clinical issues.

Qualifications

A Washington State Registered Nursing License is required for this position.

Graduation from an Accredited school of Nursing.

BLS is required at time of hire and renewal every 2 years.

This position also requires an understanding of the complexity of the illnesses manifested by patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) along with the risk factors involved and the diagnostic and treatment options available. Thorough understanding of the nationwide system of organ procurement and distribution is necessary; knowledge of how to activate patients in the national registry and the procedure for acceptance of organs is recommended.. Understanding of the intricacies of organ allocation both from a practical standpoint as well as having the ability to explain this to patients is another vital component of this position. This position also requires excellent communication and organization skills and proficient computer ability.

We deliver inspired people to do meaningful work.

We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.