University of Iowa is hiring: Lung Transplant Coordinator - UI Heart and Vascula

No Nights, Weekends, or Holidays!

UI Heart and Vascular Center is seeking a 100% Transplant Coordinator to support our Adult Lung Transplant Team.

Our transplant coordinators play a crucial role in the comprehensive care and support of patients undergoing lung transplantation. This position involves collaborating closely with transplant pulmonologists, surgeons, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure the seamless coordination of care from pre-transplant evaluation through post-transplant recovery. The Lung Transplant Nurse provides holistic patient care, including assessment, education, and advocacy, while also serving as a liaison between patients, their families, and the transplant team. This role requires expertise in pulmonary nursing, transplantation protocols, and the management of complex medical conditions. By delivering compassionate care and fostering a supportive environment, the Lung Transplant Nurse contributes to the success of the University of Iowa's lung transplantation program and positively impacts the lives of patients and their loved ones.

This position will be filled at 100%. Scheduled hours can be determined with individual candidates with the opportunity to be achieved in shifts ranging from 8-10 hours to mutually meet candidate and department needs. Regular hours 6:30 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This position does have intermittent periods of on-call responsibilities after 6 months.

Position Responsibilities

• Collaborate with nursing, medical staff, and other health professionals in the development and review of standards and in planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care for the patient population with regard to the condition and age of the patient. Provide direct nursing care when necessary. Follow universal precautions.
• Oversee patient flow through the UIHC continuum of care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Serve as an active participant in inpatient rounding with the multi-disciplinary care team.
• Independently coordinate and facilitate patient care between multiple disciplines within both the confines of UIHC and the community (including home health agencies, referring physicians, and other community support services). Facilitate continuity of care.
• Coordinate patient care to better utilize supportive services through patient visits; pre-schedule testing; follow-up with test results to both patient and physician; obtain medical history; coordinate follow-up appointments; provide medication and disease process education, etc.
• Facilitate care of patient(s) requiring admission, coordinating necessary admission procedures, pre and post-procedure care.
• Complete necessary documentation according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network guidelines including listing, status changes, and post-transplant/donation follow-up information.
• Provide the Financial Counselors with the documentation needed for prior authorization for transplantation.
• Operate autonomously in communicating with members of the health care team directing patient care and providing continuity of care across settings throughout the phases of care.
• Perform telephone triage of patient calls and facilitate medication refills as needed.
• Provide cross-coverage to other HVC Nurse Clinicians PRN.
• Perform on-call, clinical duties, special projects, and other tasks as needed.
• Provide leadership for direct patient care programs collaborating with health care professionals.
• Participate in decision-making processes at the unit/division/department level on issues that impact clinical practice.
• Participate in/provide leadership for divisional, departmental, and/or intra-institutional and community committees and projects.
• Provide input into financial management activities including operational budgetary decisions and cost containment.
• Participate in the ongoing implementation of current regulatory standards required to meet state and national agency accreditation.
• Design and implement patient/family health education activities for patients recognizing individualized needs.
• Provide patient education in the HVC that includes:
  • Assessing learning needs of patients and families post-op procedures and providing appropriate education related to diagnosis, procedure performed, risk factor modification, and treatment regimens.
  • Facilitating learning and providing consultation to those in external agencies, communities, and other health care professionals.
  • Supporting implementation and evaluation of staff education and orientation programs, coordinating and presenting.
  • Facilitating the educational experience for health care students and monitoring the care delivered.
• Present patients at care conferences, communicate with all stakeholders (patients, referring providers, consulting services, etc.), pend orders following protocols and guidelines, and review diagnostic testing results and communicate as appropriate with attending physicians.
• Assist with the designated quality database, including compiling and entering quality data.
• Participate in the development and implementation of division/unit quality assessment and improvement programs using appropriate risk and quality management data.
• Use relevant nursing research to improve clinical practice and investigate nursing care problems related to a specific patient population.
• Interact with staff, patients, medical staff, peers, and others in a professional and cooperative manner.
• Assume responsibility for maintaining clinical expertise consistent with patient population requirements and current nursing and medical practice.
• Adhere to professional and legal standards of nursing practice.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient and staff information.
• Support a work environment that fosters teamwork and is conducive to the recruitment and retention of staff.
• Demonstrate the core values of service leadership: respect, communication, accountability, integrity, and compassion.
• Remain calm and constructive in conflict situations, listen and attempt to understand other points of view.
• Analyze own performance in accordance with position expectations, develop goals, and implement a plan to meet those goals.
• Follow general policies and procedures in accordance with the regulations of the University of Iowa, UI Health Care, the HVC, and the Department of Nursing.
• After six months, provide on-call coverage, including coordination of activities prior to transplant, and as medical triage for outpatients in collaboration with the physician on-call. Coordinate the transplantation process when a donor is available, including communication between physicians, local organ procurement organization, patient/families, and the medical team involved.
• Educate other nurses, such as inpatient nurses and other multidisciplinary team members about patient care issues to promote positive outcomes for transplant patients. Observe for patterns of variation from the plan of care and facilitate corrective actions as part of the quality process.

Education Requirement

• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing is required.

Experience Requirement

• Minimum 6 months providing direct nursing care or management/supervision of internal medicine/surgical patients OR Minimum 1 year providing direct nursing care/care coordination within an outpatient setting required.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience and skills with electronic health records are required.

Certification/Licensure Requirement

• Current certification in BLS required by start date.
• Current license to practice nursing in the State of Iowa required by start date.

Desired Qualifications

• 3 years providing direct nursing care or management/supervision of internal medicine surgical patient population.
• Previous nursing experience managing internal medicine/respiratory patient population in an outpatient/ambulatory setting.
• Strong organization and time management skills and documented excellent interpersonal skills with patients, families, and health care teams.
• Current job-related professional certification.

In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

For additional questions, please contact Jordan Adam (jordan-adam@uiowa.edu) or 319-384-5699.

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.