Post-Transplant Coordinator ( RN ) – Lung – Houston, TX

• Communicates in an active, positive, and effective manner with all transplant team members, patients, referring physicians, and other health care providers; reports pertinent patient care and family data in a comprehensive and unbiased manner; communicates patient’s status; and maintains communication as needed post-transplant

• Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients and families and communicates the plan of care. Identifies and responds to the clinical, psychosocial, and economic needs of the transplant patient/family/caregiver during pre-operative, hospital, and post-transplant phases. Discusses importance of recipient/family/caregiver’s commitment to transplant medical and medication regimen and well-care, i.e., immunizations, mammography, pap smears, and colonoscopy, etc

• Fosters teamwork approach in all interactions with peers and team members. Anticipates needs of other team members; proactively offering assistance. Contributes to meeting department score for employee engagement

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follows the patient and family-centered care standards, as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles. Assists with inter-professional team discharge planning for the transplant recipient to provide for recipient’s continuity of care. Explains procedures required for follow-up and need for periodic follow-up at transplant center

• Establishes mutual educational goals with patient and family/caregivers and provides education and appropriate resources regarding vital signs, frequency of follow-up visits, lab studies and reporting abnormalities to transplant center/primary care provider, signs/symptoms of rejections/infections, medications, etc

• Collects and reviews data pertinent to recipients’ health and organ function per protocol and as needed in follow-up. Communicates lab data and diagnostic results to transplant physician/health care provider. Implements changes in drug/treatment therapy as ordered by transplant physicians. Arranges for consultations, diagnostic procedures, and hospitalization when indicated. Maintains communication with referring physician

• Participates in transplant event process according to transplant center protocol, as applicable. Contributes to meeting department and organ program targets for process on department dashboard

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors patient progress post-transplant, identifies complications and considers interventions with the transplant team. Collaborates with nursing staff, social workers, and other health care providers to establish and implement patient care plan according to current standards of care

• Recognizes potential problems, abnormal diagnostic findings, and/or significant changes during the post-transplant phase, coordinating required care

• Maintains and updates recipient status per Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network of Organ Sharing (OPTN/UNOS) regulations. Maintains comprehensive documentation of donor/recipient transplant information and recipient’s progress post transplantation. Complies with and is knowledgeable of OPTN/UNOS policies and listing requirements. Monitors and submits accurate data for hospital-based statistics and regulatory agencies such as OPTN/UNOS/CMS and Medicaid to ensure compliance with all governmental reporting requirements, and proper quality outcomes monitoring. Contributes to meeting department and organ program targets for quality, compliance, and safety, on department dashboard

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Validates patient’s insurance authorization for applicable diagnostic testing, ensuring documentation of applicable clinical activities for department charge capture and proper department financial management

• Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members. Contributes to meeting department and organ program financial measures

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement projects. Contributes to department initiatives for quality and process improvement

• Participates in transplant-specific continuous learning and growth. Applies evidence-based practice to daily work, such as reviewing the professional literature and attending professional meetings and sharing with colleagues. Identifies own learning needs and actively seeks educational opportunities, both formal and informal, to meet those needs. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited School of Nursing

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Four years nursing experience

• Previous transplant acute care and/or ICU experience preferred