What kinds of jobs involving organ donations are available to ADN educated RNs?

[NenaRK]

I know someone who has been an RN for about 4 years, and only has her ADN. She has been working in the ICU since she graduated, but left the hospital to take a new job. Apparently she is doing something involving organ donations and transplants, and she is going to be getting paid more than a regular ICU RN. She didn't mention the specific title of the job, so I was wondering what it was...

What kinds of jobs involve organ donations for RNs with only an ADN degree?

thanks

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Please do not use the word 'only' in front of ADN.

For the record, ADN's work in any transplant/Donor area.. I work with a nurse who harvested bone with 'only' an ADN and a nurse who was part of a transplant team.

[NenaRK]

Please do not use the word 'only' in front of ADN.

For the record, ADN's work in any transplant/Donor area.. I work with a nurse who harvested bone with 'only' an ADN and a nurse who was part of a transplant team.

For the record, I was asking because I am applying to an ADN program, so I certainly wouldn't be speaking negatively about ADN's since I'm trying to become one.

I was just wondering what types of jobs are available with that level of education and experience involving organ donations.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Love the eye rolling...

Then don't knock your degree before you even have it.

[vanburbian]

The same as are available for any other LICENSED REGISTERED NURSE, depending on the organization doing the hiring, some who prefer BSN, some who don't care.

Public Health generally requires a BSN, so that may be one area, teaching I think at minimum a BSN, hmm...what else?

Geez....not much else I can think of, but then again, I'm"just" an ADN nurse.

[TeenyTinyBabyRN, BSN, RN]

Gosh, why so touchy? She obviously wasn't meaning it as an insult and just wants info. All the catty remarks aren't helpful.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

For the record, I was asking because I am applying to an ADN program, so I certainly wouldn't be speaking negatively about ADN's since I'm trying to become one.

I was just wondering what types of jobs are available with that level of education and experience involving organ donations.

Any job that anyone who goes to an accredited school of nursing and passed NCLEX can do. Where does this malarkey get started that a ADN grad gets lower jobs....the schools?

Well they are lying.....

You said your friend was an ICU nurse. When a patient becomes a donor they are closely monitored by an ICU nurse with very specific criteria for care to make this a successful harvesting like urine output, vital signs and labs and correction of said labs. Technically, since the patient (although a "living donor") has been declared and pronounced dead........ There are no laws mandating who can care for the deceased so technically anyone schooled in the care of these patients can care for them with or without a license but usually critical care nurses are the one's who come and take over the care of the patient until the time of harvest.

Taking care of these patients is labor intensive. There is a TON of travel and call 24/7 involved so I can see why that pay would commiserate with the position.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

OK, back on topic y'all...

OP, I am wondering if the job that your friend took was a Transplant Coordinator. While most universities prefer a BSN or MSN, it isn't always REQUIRED.

Sometimes facilities will hire a candidate into a BSN/MSN required role with the agreement that the candidate will complete the educational requirements within a year of hire.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

In my experience, coordinator positions with the OPN (organ procurement network) in my region are generally staffed by regular ole RNs - with or without a BSN.

[NenaRK]

I am the OP, and when I said "only has her ADN" I was just trying to say that it is the only education she has at all, not just in Nursing. Because in the past on AN, I've written a thread and I mentioned that someone has an ADN or BSN, then I get a reply saying "well do they have an ADN plus an Bachelors in another subject?" So, to avoid having to clarify later, I decided to say that "she only has her ADN".

Plus, I have always heard "you need a BSN to enter most management positions." etc etc, so I was curious to find out exactly what this new position was.

Thanks to those of you who answered without all the cattiness! I have a better idea of what the job is now.

[NenaRK]

Hello all,

I am currently taking my prerequisites for Nursing. I know a woman who is an RN, she's been working in the ICU since she graduated from an ADN program 4 years ago.

She just got hired at a new job, so she'll be leaving the hospital and going to a different company. She didn't say the specific company or job title, but apparently she is going to be doing the "planning" aspect of transplants and organ donations. Apparently she is going to be working days instead of nights now, and get much better pay than her old job.

So I was wondering, would this be considered a Transplant Coordinator?

Can you become a transplant coordinator with an ADN and 4 years experience?

If anyone has experience as a Transplant Coordinator, or knows anything about it, let me know!

Thanks!

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I read a lot of comments on here about "needing a BSN." I just wanted to mention that our DON has "only" an ADN. My cousin also is a DON and has "only" an ADN. It must depend on the area, because here there isn't that much emphasis placed on it. I have noticed a trend to become "certified" in your area of expertise, tho.