Steps to become a Transplant Nurse/Coordinator

core0 · May 13, 2008

Ive searched and searched and I cant find it. So Im hoping someone here can help. How can one become a Transplant Coordinator? Would I need to become an RN first? Would becoming an LPN first work? What section of the hospital would be benefecial to get me on the right track to the transplant unit? Im almost 30 and not even in school yet. But I will be with in the next year (hopefully). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Two issues. There are essentially two sides to transplant. Procurement and Clinical. Procurement deals with obtaining the organs. They work for the organ procurement agency (OPO). Usually there are technicians and nurses on the teams. The technicians are all CSTs with a lot of experience. The nurses are RNs with a fair amount of ICU time. I haven't seen any that aren't CCRN's. They work with the OPO medical director to optimize the patient once the decision has been made to procure. They also have to do a lot of liasoning with several surgical teams to coordinate the OR, flush the organs and get everything packaged. They also have to make sure the paperwork (lots of paperwork) is done right.

The clinical side also does not require a nursing license. However, for practical and legal reasons most programs use RNs. I have seen paramedics and LPNs working as coordinators, but this is pretty rare. There are other positions inside a transplant program such as donor coordinator where non RNs might be used, but these really aren't clinical.

For what it takes to be a transplant coordinator you have to look at what is involved in the job. We expect the coordinators to be detail oriented, able to problem solve, self motivator, excellent communicators, and good patient advocates. All of our coordinators have at least a bachelors and 1/2 of them have Masters. I don't think that this is a requirement here, but thats the way it worked out. The job is a little bit social work, with clinical nursing a lot of patient education and whole lot of tracking down labs.

Here is a job description that details things pretty well (not ours but similar to ours):

http://www.hr.duke.edu/jobs/descr_duhs/select.php?ID=5322

Here is a pretty good blog by a procurement coordinator:

http://donorcycle.blogspot.com/2006/02/what-do-i-do.html

All of our coordinators have significant experience as nurses. When we interviewed for our last position we didn't interview anyone with less than 5 years. Transplant experience is preferred either clinic or floor. ICU experience and acute rehab experience is also a good start. Smaller programs may have different requirements especially kidney only programs.

There is also a transplant coordinator certification for nurses. This requires two years as an RN with one year as a coordinator:

http://www.abtc.net/aboutabtc.html

Hope this helps.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Asherah, BSN, RN · May 13, 2008

I'm also gathering information regarding this role as a possible path I'd like to take. It was helpful for me to see the harvesting process by observing a team from One Legacy (Southern California-based transplant coordinators). You may be able to contact such a company in your area and inquire about the job requirements to reach a transplant coordinator position. I can't recall the specific requirements off hand, but I know that they are very specific and likely require a mastery of critical care nursing.

kiss04bam · May 13, 2008

THANKS! This really claries it more. Thanks again! I really appreciate it. Now I know the steps I need to take!!!

allnurses Guide · Sep 3, 2008

How common is the requirement for CTC certification? I am interested in it, but finding it hard to find much info. Part of my duties are as a VAD/transplant coordinator, and I have recently done my CCRN.

jboo1919 · Nov 10, 2008

I am currently a pre-liver transplant coordinator at a large teaching hospital. I have my BSN degree.

I had 3 years of previous PICU bedside nursing experience. I did not have to take the CTC exam to obtain the job. Does anyone know if it is necessary at other transplant centers to have this certification? I am thinking of moving back to Michigan in the next few years and am wondering if I should start studying!

Also, what are the salary ranges of transplant coordinators in the midwest region? Thanks!

allnurses Guide · Feb 26, 2009

I haven't been able to find any info on this page about CCTC exam. I am planning to complete it within the next 12 months though. It is a required step to go up to the next level of pay and responsibility in my position. I'll let you know how I do - I know one of the girls I work with failed the first time and repeated.

allnurses Guide · Sep 27, 2009

Actually, make that 2 of my colleagues who failed the first attempt. Eek! I am planning to take the exam soon so I will post about it in case anyone else is interested, since there's just nothing on this site about it so far.