Major Responsibilities: Plans, implements and conducts the clinical care of the kidney transplant recipient in the outpatient clinic by coordinating short and long-term follow-up care for patients. 1)Conducts the outpatient clinic two days/week, and as dictated by the needs of the post-kidney transplant recipients. 2)Provides physical and psychosocial support, patient education, wound care, management of hypertension, phlebotomy and general nursing care. 3)Develops a nursing care plan for kidney transplant recipients that include assisting patients with independent management of prescribed medical regimen. 4)Monitors patients to rule out rejection, and documents patient lab results and physical findings, and collaborates with surgeons and nephrologist to provide treatment options. 5)Reviews and interprets patient test results in collaboration with surgeons and nephrologists. 6)Coordinates surgical and diagnostic interventions prescribed by the surgeon and/or nephrologists’ transplant process. 7)Contacts patients (timeliness is essential) at end of clinic visit to review plan of care and make any necessary adjustments in anti-rejection medications. Assists hospital nursing staff in the post-operative care of the kidney transplant.regarding the patients through care coordination and oversight. 1)Assists in the coordination of patient care and the monitoring of nursing care of the kidney transplant recipient through active involvement in treatment planning. 2)Serves as a liaison between nursing, house staff, attending physician, social workers, insurance case managers, patients and their families. 3)Plans, implements and evaluates the discharge needs in cooperation with the primary nurses, social worker and care manager when appropriate. The education process begins as soon as the patient is able to reasonably understand orders and occurs in at least three sessions prior to discharge. 4)Provides formal and informal education to the nursing professionals in the acute care setting to assure their ability to deliver excellence post-transplant care. 5)Provides written educational material utilized by the patients and nursing staff. Supports and promotes research and clinical trials. 1)Assists with identifying potential candidates for participation in research studies as it relates to adult kidney transplant patients. 2)Follows established research protocols in outpatient clinic, and provides follow-up clinical information that may be helpful to the clinical trials. 3)Promotes participation in clinical trials with patients and referring physicians. Educational Responsibilities 1)Provides formal and informal education to nursing professionals in the acute care setting. 2)Works collaboratively with the surgeons and nephrologists, coordinates/organizes formal symposia for health care professionals to promote advances in transplantation. 3)Identifies learning needs of patients and families and implements appropriate teaching plan as it relates to adult patients. 4)Works collaboratively with Executive Director, Transplant Administrator and transplant nurse coordinators to develop patient education/marketing materials. 5)Attends continuing education seminars/conferences to maintain standards and educational requirements specific to the position to enable the provision of the most current information to other hospital/clinic staff. 6)Acts as mentor/clinical preceptor for nursing students. Administrative Responsibilities 1)Maintains communication with the patient and dialysis unit personnel regarding patient’s post-transplant status. 2)Serves as a resource person for other members of the multi-disciplinary health care team (e.g., pharmacist, social worker, and lab personnel). 3)Assists transplant surgeons and nephrologists in maintaining communication with patient’s referring nephrologists during the post-transplant phase as it relates to adult patients. 4)Develops and maintains professional relationships with the health care team of area dialysis units. 5)Enters data of all recipient outcomes in the electronic UNOS Database System On-Call Responsibilities 1)Participates equally in accepting emergency calls from pre- and post-kidney transplant patients. 2)Coordinates patient admission to hospital for kidney transplantation. 3)Triages patient and physician calls for pre- and post-transplant patients 4)Maintains working cell phone and pager. Professional Development 1)Maintains the standards and educational requirements specific to the position through continuing education. 2)Serves as representative in external committee and organizations such as the International Transplant Nurses Society (ITNS), American Nephrology Association (ANNA), North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NAGCO), and National Kidney Foundation (NKF). 3)Updates knowledge of current developments in patient care management, health care legislation and hospital/community resources Licensure: Nurse, Registered (RN) Education/Experience Required: • Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or equivalent. • 5+ years med/surg and/or acute hemodialysis experience which includes 2 years transplant experience. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Strong analytical skills • Effective at time management • Good organizational skills • Basic computer and database knowledge • Effective communication and presentation skills. • Attention to detail. • Current RN license in the State of Illinois • CPR certification. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Ability to recognize the needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups of patients treated • Ability to educate patients on age specific levels. • Ability to work flexible hours according to patient care needs. • Ability to effectively multi-task and problem solve • Ability to prioritize independently. • Ability to work effectively as a team member and to promote positive working relationships and teamwork skills. • Ability to communicate with patients/families • Ability to work within stressful conditions and difficult situations. • Close attention to details involving numerous patients often in periods where timeliness is critical. If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.