Nursing and Transplant Coordination: A Call for Clarity

Abstract

Organ transplantation is a complex and highly regulated field. This review focuses on the role of nurses and transplant coordinators in solid organ transplantation, excluding both inpatient staff nursing and procurement activities. The literature describes a robust and autonomous transplant coordinator role; a key member of the multidisciplinary transplant team. Transplant coordinators facilitate patient care throughout all phases of transplantation. However, a lack of consensus on licensure and educational preparation of these important practitioners was evident from the review of literature. Synthesis of the data suggests that the role of transplant coordinator is not distinct but a description of a wide variety of functions, duties, and tasks that require varying levels of licensure and educational preparation. Greater clarity for both practitioners and consumers could be achieved by creating certification levels similar to nephrology nurses. As no transplant-specific staffing models or benchmarks were discovered, rigorous research regarding optimal staffing patterns is also recommended.