RN Transplant Coordinator - Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplant

UNC Health Care; Chapel Hill (NC); Hybrid; USD 53,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health Care seeks an Islet Cell Transplant Nurse Coordinator in Chapel Hill, NC. This role coordinates pre‑ and post‑transplant care, supporting patients through the islet transplant process in a nationally recognized program.

You will work with surgeons, endocrinologists, social workers, and other specialists to develop individualized care plans and ensure excellent communication across settings. A BSN and NC RN licensure are required, with transplant certifications encouraged within three

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited program.
• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina.
• CCTC/OCN/TCTCN certifications strongly encouraged within specified timelines.
• Minimum of 3 years nursing experience; transplant/critical care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care across the pre-transplant to post-transplant continuum.
• Oversee clinical, psychological and financial needs of patients.
• Coordinate pre-procedure tests and consultations for candidacy.
• Manage waiting lists for solid organ transplants and follow-up.
• Educate patients and families about transplant care and expectations.
• Maintain regulatory compliance and contribute to QA/QI efforts.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

EMR proficiency

Nursing licensure

Education

BSN required

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

Description

Are you a nurse who wants to practice at the cutting edge of transplant medicine-where only a handful of transplant centers in the country can go?

As anIslet Cell Transplant Nurse Coordinator at UNC Health, you will be part of an elite team at one of onlytentransplant centers in the United States offering this highly specialized therapy. This is a rare opportunity to shape a program that is redefining care for patients with complex pancreatic disease while building ongoing relationships with the patients whose lives you help transform.

In this role, you will:

• Coordinate care across the full islet transplant continuum-from pre-transplant evaluation through the procedure and post-transplant follow-up.
• Coordinate carefor patients undergoing a range of other pancreas, liver, kidney, and dialysis access surgeries.
• Develop and implement individualized plans of care, collaborating closely with surgeons, endocrinologists, advanced practice providers, social workers, and other specialists.
• Serve as the central liaisonfor patients and families, ensuring seamless communication and coordination across inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Monitor clinical status and transplant outcomes, arranging tests, tracking organ/islet function, and anticipating needs to prevent complications and optimize long‑term success.
• Provide expert education and support, helping patients understand the islet transplant process, medications, lifestyle changes, and realistic expectations for life after transplant.
• Contribute to program excellence, supporting meticulous documentation, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement efforts that help sustain a transplant program that is recognized as a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence.

This role offers a unique blend of advanced clinical practice, innovation, and relationship-centered care. If you're ready to be part of a small group of nurses nationwide leading this emerging field-and to help patients access a treatment available at only a few centers in the country-this position offers an exceptional and impactful opportunity.

This position is scheduled Monday through Friday with no weekends, holidays, or on-call responsibilities.

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well‑being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Summary:
This position coordinates solid organ and bone marrow transplantation of pediatric and adult transplant recipients. This position provides care across the continuum from pre‑transplant, during transplant and post transplant. This position plays a critical role in managing the complex processes of transplantation and other therapies. They act as a liaison between patients, medical teams and procurement organizations, ensuring smooth communication and coordination of care.

Responsibilities

Patient Care Coordination

• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement an individualized plan of care for pre‑and post‑transplant patients.
• Oversee and/or coordinate the clinical, psychological and financial needs of the patient.
• Coordinate pre‑procedure tests and consultations to determine transplant or therapy candidacy.
• For solid organ transplants, manage the program's waiting list, including regular follow‑up on patient status and coordinating organ offers.
• Facilitate the transplant process by organizing the patient and the medical team.
• Monitor inpatient status, discharge needs and post‑transplant follow‑up care.
• Coordinate care across outpatient and inpatient settings.
• Assess organ function and general health status, determining the need for additional assessment or intervention.

Education

• Educate patients and their families about the transplant/ therapy process and what to expect during each phase.
• Plan, acquire, or design educational materials and present educational programs to patients, staff, other professionals, the community and outside agencies.
• Educate nurses and other multidisciplinary team members about transplant care to promote positive outcomes.

Regulatory Compliance/Quality Improvement

• Document and maintain patient information in the electronic medical record with current data and required information to ensure regulatory compliance with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and/or Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) guidelines as applicable.
• Collaborate with transplant leadership in program planning.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the program's Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) efforts.
• Review patient resource utilization and identify areas for improvement.
• Participate in the development and improvement of clinical workflows

Other Information

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) from a state‑accredited school of professional nursing.

Licensure/Certification Requirements:

• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina.
• Related certification may be required per individual department guidelines:
• For Solid Organ Transplant: Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC) is strongly encouraged within three years of hire.
• For Bone Marrow Transplant: Either Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) or Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Certified Nurse (TCTCN) certification required within two years of hire.

Professional Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of nursing experience in a clinical setting.
• Solid Organ Transplant: transplant and/or critical care experience preferred.
• Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program: hematology/oncology experience preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with patients and healthcare teams.
• Strong organizational ability, attention to detail and proficiency with electronic medical records.

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: Pancreatic Islet Cell Trnsplnt

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range:$38.55 - $55.43 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Hybrid

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email [e-mail] if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.