Transplant Organ Preservationist

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Transplant Organ Preservationist is responsible for recovery activities related to the allocation, distribution, surgical removal, and preservation of organs for transplantation. Specifically, this involves management of supplies and medication for the case, traveling with surgical teams for organ recovery, set up and maintain sterile fields and back tables in the OR, assisting surgeons during organ recovery procedures, and packaging organs according to regulatory standards. Preservationists have responsibility to deliver organs, blood and tissue samples back to the recipient location, and to ensure all procedures are documented accurately and in compliance with protocols. This is a full-time position with a guaranteed 40-hour workweek. Additional details regarding schedule, responsibilities, and benefits will be discussed during the interview process. Vanderbilt Health is a leading provider of organ transplantation in the United States, giving hundreds of people new hope and longer life each year. For more than six decades, the Vanderbilt team has been committed to providing lifesaving transplants to people from all over the world. As Tennessee’s only full-service transplant center, we offer the most advanced care for end-stage organ failure in children and adults. Our transplant specialists also perform lifesaving dual-organ transplants, including heart-kidney, heart-liver, heart-lung, kidney-pancreas and liver-kidney.

Requirements

2 years of surgical technology, organ preservation or donation experience.
Experience in other medical fields, such as RN, EMT, etc., may be considered.
Direct Patient Care, Operating Room
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT KNOWLEDGE (INTERMEDIATE): Awareness of the capabilities of the specific medical equipment and its characteristics. Able to use the medical equipment to accomplish advanced tasks independently with associated with the specific devices.
SURGICAL EQUIPMENT KNOWLEDGE (INTERMEDIATE): Demonstrates mastery of the equipment and related devices. Has solid knowledge of performance criteria. Able to use the equipment to accomplish advanced tasks associated with the specific devices. Easily resolves equipment problems.
PROCEDURES KNOWLEDGE (INTERMEDIATE): Demonstrates mastery of procedures knowledge in practical applications of a difficult nature. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to successfully execute complex procedures without requiring support and instruction from others. Able to train and educate by setting the example, giving technical instruction, providing leadership, and generally raising the level of performance of others while on the job.
OPERATING ROOM CARE (INTERMEDIATE): Demonstrates mastery of operating room care in practical applications of a difficult nature. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to successfully execute complex procedures without requiring support and instruction from others. Able to train and educate by setting the example, giving technical instruction, providing leadership, and generally raising the level of performance of others while on the job.
ENVIRONMENTAL STERILITY & SAFETY (INTERMEDIATE): Demonstrates mastery of environmental sterility and safety in practical applications of a difficult nature. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to successfully deliver environmental sterility and safety services without requiring support and instruction.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT (INTERMEDIATE): Possesses sufficient proficiency to successfully demonstrate Inventory Management skills in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Demonstrates basic expertise with Inventory Management tools, procedures and processes. Monitors material moved into and out of stockroom locations and reconciles inventory balances.
Organizational Impact: Performs tasks that are typically routine that may impact team's performance with occasional guidance.
Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems.
Breadth of Knowledge: Applies knowledge of standards, established processes and procedure that apply to your own job.
Team Interaction: Provides guidance to entry level co-workers.
Supporting Colleagues : Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues' priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.- Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.
Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.- Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.
Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.
Managing Resources Effectively : - Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.
Fostering Innovation : - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them. - Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.
High School Diploma or GED

Nice To Haves

Certified Organ Preservationist OR NBSTSA CST OR NCCT TS-C
Associates or Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Responsibilities

Provides medical/technical support to Organ Recovery teams for the removal of donor organs and tissue including preparation of equipment, medications, clinical guidance, communication, and organ packaging.
Evaluates donor organs for suitability of transplantation.
Monitors preservation parameters during organ recovery surgery and transport to ensure quality outcomes.
Coordinates organ transport and delivery to recipient hospitals, including necessary documentation and communication.
Demonstrates knowledge of principles of decontamination, disinfection, sanitation, and sterilization and applies these principles to reduce infection potential.
Participates in quality assessment and performance improvement activities including but not limited to data entry, data analysis, report compilation, presentations to peers and leaders.
Required to participate in all forms of ground and air travel.