Job Description

JOB TITLE: Nurse Program Manager, Kidney Transplant

SUPERSEDES: 01/25, 04/25 (Transplant Program Manager, Kidney)

FLSA: Exempt

JOB CODE: 2802

ISSUED: 01/2025

REVISED: 04/2025

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Nurse Program Manager, Kidney Transplant is responsible for the overall administration, management, and regulatory compliance of the kidney transplant program. This role ensures that the program operates efficiently, meets the highest clinical standards, and adheres to all regulatory requirements established by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and other relevant accrediting bodies. The administrator will work closely with clinical, operational, and leadership teams to enhance the quality of care, patient outcomes, and program growth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Lead kidney transplant program operations, financials, and strategy, ensuring alignment with hospital goals, UNOS, and regulatory standards. Ensure program compliance with UNOS, CMS, and DNV standards. Prepare for audits/inspections and maintain necessary documentation.

Provide informed advice and information to the Director of the transplant program, physicians, and staff on administrative policies and procedures and has responsibility to the Director for ensuring compliance.

Oversee candidate listing and status updates in the UNET system, ensuring paperwork is complete and up-to-date.

Manage patient eligibility assessments and listing processes, ensuring timely communication with patients, families, and the transplant team.

Coordinate smooth transitions through pre-transplant, transplant, and post-transplant care phases.

Review and update Navex policies with the transplant team to ensure regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness.

Prepare for regulatory audits, ensuring adherence to all relevant standards and guidelines.

Maintain staff education requirements, ensuring compliance with OPTN and CMS guidelines.

Take periodic 24/7 on-call for organ offers, evaluations, patient consultations, and surgery scheduling.

Implement quality improvement programs to monitor and improve patient outcomes and overall program performance.

Ensure timely and accurate submission of transplant-related data to UNOS, including listings, outcomes, and waitlist data.

Monitor waitlist management and ensure compliance with UNOS regulations on organ allocation and patient status updates.

Collaborate with the transplant team (nephrologists, surgeons, coordinators, social workers) for comprehensive patient care. Act as liaison with hospital administration and ancillary services. Participate in leading weekly team meetings to review patient cases, organ offers, and quality improvement initiatives.

Serve as primary contact for external partners (referring physicians, hospitals, dialysis centers, OPOs) and represent the program at community/professional events.

Ensure ongoing education for the transplant team on new UNOS policies, clinical guidelines, and technological advancements in transplant care.

Manage the development, coordination, and maintenance of daily staffing schedules to ensure the appropriate level of coverage and continuity of care.

Monitor and oversee time and attendance in alignment with MU Health Care policies and practices, ensuring accuracy of records and timely approval for payroll purposes.

May complete unit/department-specific duties as outlined in department documents.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Strong knowledge of UNOS regulations, CMS requirements, and healthcare accreditation standards.

Excellent organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to manage quality improvement initiatives and interpret complex data.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with patients, families, staff, and external stakeholders.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Supervision is received from the assigned Director of Nursing, or designee.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervision is exercised over team members of the Kidney Transplant Program.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Missouri Board of Nursing RN or Nurse Licensure Compact multi-state RN. When primary state of residency changes, compact state RNs must apply under new state of residency within thirty (30) days.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Five (5) years of experience in transplant program administration or a similar leadership role in health care.

Experience with UNOS policies, kidney transplant procedures, and regulatory requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC) or Certified Transplant Preservationist (CTPA) by the American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC), or related certification.

Master's degree in Healthcare Administration (MHA), Business Administration (MBA), or a related field.

Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and may require ambulating, remaining in a stationary position and positioning self to reach and/or move objects above the shoulders and below the knees. The employee may frequently lift and/or move objects up to 10 lbs and occasionally move objects up to 25 lbs.

This role may also routinely come into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job; however, completion of these duties is a measure of successful performance. Employees of this job classification are subject to performance reviews. Basic function, responsibilities and characteristics duties may change at any time with or without notice.

SAFETY SENSITIVE STATUS

This position is considered safety sensitive.

This document is a general description of typical job duties, responsibilities and qualifications of employees holding the associated job title. Additional duties, specific qualifications and work emphasis may vary between individual positions.