(RN) Registered Nurse - Pre-Transplant Coordinator - 140792

UC San Diego Health is proud to be a four-time Magnet-designated organization and has now earned Magnet with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet is the gold standard for nursing excellence, achieved by only about 10% of hospitals worldwide. Magnet with Distinction is awarded to the highest-performing Magnet organizations, with only a select few earning this prestigious honor. This recognition reflects our commitment to transformational leadership, professional nursing excellence, innovation, exceptional patient outcomes, and an empowering practice environment where nurses thrive.

Pre-Heart transplant coordinator (multi-site). Coordinates the evaluation and preparation of patients for heart transplantation, and manages waitlisted patients, serving as a key liaison between patients, families, and the multidisciplinary team. Provides education on the transplant process, obtains informed consent, and ensures completion of all pre-transplant requirements. Travels across multiple hospital sites (La Jolla, Hillcrest and East Campus) to provide patient education, coordination of care, and continuity across settings.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Management and Care Coordination

• Coordinate patient care for the heart transplant across all campuses throughout the transplant continuum, including referral, evaluation, selection, and waitlist.
• Collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to facilitate outside hospital transfer process upon referral acceptance.
• Provide clinical oversight and appropriate escalation of patient changes or care gaps to the transplant stakeholders.
• Anticipate and facilitate timely diagnostic testing and imaging, consultations, and treatment plans.
• Effective communication and collaborate with multidisciplinary health team, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a liaison between patients, families and the transplant multidisciplinary team.
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and case conferences.
• Navigate Phoenix and Epic to access, review, update, and document patient charts accordingly.

Patient and Family Education

• Provide comprehensive, individualized education to patients and families regarding the transplant process, procedures follow-up requirements, and necessary lifestyle modifications in a timely manner.
• Serve as a resource and liaison for patients and families throughout the transplant process.

Regulatory and Quality Compliance

• Ensure regulatory and quality compliance with UNOS, CMS, and Joint Commission standards and requirement.
• Complete time-sensitive, required transplant forms and tasks in a timely manner.
• Assist with quality and regulatory assurance initiatives, including but not limited to chart reviews and audits.

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of Nursing.
• Registered Nurse (RN) issued by the state of California.
• BART or BLS at time of hire with commitment to get BART w/in 6 months of hire date.
• Minimum of one year experience as a pre-transplant coordinator with direct care of pre-transplant patients as a primary responsibility required. Experience in roles where pre-transplant patient care is a secondary function will not be considered.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary care across inpatient and outpatient settings, including but not limiting transfer in, new referrals for transplant evaluation.
• Demonstrated understanding of transplant phases and its processes, including a basic understanding of UNOS/OPTN guidelines, CMS transplant regulations, and compliance standards.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to manage multiple levels of information and responsibilities, and to quickly assess moderate to complex problems to develop appropriate solutions.
• Ability to provide effective, thorough, individualized patient evaluation education and discharge teaching to patients and their families.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and clinical skills to identify and implement nursing interventions, evaluate results, and appropriate escalation.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate and influence all levels of multidisciplinary team members, physicians, patients and external stakeholders, both verbally and in writing while promoting kindness, professionalism, teamwork, and high-quality patient care.Strong prioritization skills to meet urgent program and patient needs.
• Demonstrates the ability to adapt to fast-paced environment, frequent workflow changes, managing stress, and maintaining professionalism.
• Maintains a positive, solution-oriented approach to challenges, encourages teamwork and open communication, and remains receptive to feedback to support individuals and program growth.
• Ability to at all times adhere to UCSD Health Medical Center (C.A.R.I.N.G.) Standards of Performance, and demonstrate the characteristics of professionalism in attire, attitude, conversation, behavior and attentiveness to others.

• BSN.
• Previous transplant or organ procurement experience.
• Epic (inpatient and outpatient) and Phoenix experience.
• Previous experience providing comprehensive transplant patient education and care coordination.
• Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC).
• Organ Procurement Coordinator (CPTC) certification (for OPO roles).

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Selected candidate may be hired at the CNIII level pending review and approval by the Nurse Executive Council.