PRN Outpatient Transplant Surgery PA/NP

Advanced Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant) – PRN 

Transplant Surgery Post-Operative Clinic 

Position Summary 

The PRN Advanced Practice Provider (APP) provides comprehensive outpatient postoperative care for adult kidney, pancreas, simultaneous kidney-pancreas (SPK), living donor nephrectomy, and transplant urology patients following hospital discharge. Working in collaboration with transplant surgeons, transplant nephrologists, transplant urologists, and the multidisciplinary transplant team, the APP evaluates surgical recovery, manages postoperative complications within scope of practice, coordinates transitions of care, and promotes optimal graft and patient outcomes. 

The APP independently evaluates established postoperative patients, performs routine postoperative procedures, coordinates follow-up care, and identifies patients requiring escalation of care. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

Postoperative Patient Management 

Provide comprehensive postoperative care for: 

• Kidney transplant recipients 

• Pancreas transplant recipients 

• Simultaneous kidney-pancreas (SPK) recipients 

• Living kidney donors 

• Transplant urology patients 

Responsibilities include: 

• Perform postoperative clinic evaluations. 

• Assess surgical recovery and overall clinical status. 

• Review hospitalization course and discharge plans. 

• Evaluate incision healing and wound integrity. 

• Monitor for surgical complications. 

• Assess pain control and recovery progress. 

• Reinforce discharge instructions. 

• Coordinate ongoing follow-up care. 

Surgical Assessment 

Evaluate patients for: 

• Surgical site infection 

• Hematoma or seroma 

• Wound dehiscence 

• Lymphocele 

• Delayed wound healing 

• Urinary complications 

• Drain output and function 

• Graft function 

• Ongoing surgical needs and/or evaluation 

• Surgical consultations  

Promptly communicate concerning findings to the transplant surgeon. 

Procedures 

Perform procedures within credentialing and institutional privileges, including: 

• Staple removal 

• Suture removal 

• Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain removal 

• Dressing changes 

• Negative pressure wound dressing management 

• Foley catheter removal and replacement 

• Bladder scanning 

• Wound assessment and debridement  

• Collection of wound cultures 

• Minor office procedures as credentialed 

• Assist with ureteral stent removal 

• Management of percutaneous nephrostomy tubes 

Diagnostic & Medical Management

Within scope of practice: 

• Order and interpret laboratory studies. 

• Review imaging studies. 

• Prescribe medications. 

• Adjust postoperative medications. 

• Manage pain medications. 

• Manage bowel regimens. 

• Treat uncomplicated postoperative infections. 

• Coordinate immunosuppression management with transplant nephrology. 

• Arrange hospital admission when clinically indicated. 

• Surgical planning and coordination  

Patient Education 

Provide education regarding: 

• Incision care 

• Wound care 

• Drain care 

• Activity restrictions 

• Lifting precautions 

• Nutrition and hydration 

• Signs and symptoms requiring urgent evaluation 

• Infection prevention 

• Return to work and driving 

• Long-term follow-up schedule 

Care Coordination 

Collaborate with, but not limited to: 

• Transplant surgeons 

• Transplant nephrologists 

• Transplant urologists 

• Nurse coordinators 

• Pharmacists 

• Dietitians 

• Social workers 

• Physical and occupational therapy 

• Home health agencies 

• Community providers 

Coordinate laboratory testing, imaging, specialty referrals, and hospital admissions as needed. 

Documentation 

Complete timely documentation including: 

• Postoperative clinic notes 

• Procedure notes 

• Telephone encounters 

• Patient portal communications 

• Medication reconciliation 

• Billing documentation 

• Care coordination documentation 

Communication 

Communicate effectively with: 

• Patients and caregivers 

• Transplant physicians 

• Inpatient teams 

• Community providers 

• Dialysis centers (when applicable) 

• Home health agencies 

Respond promptly to patient calls regarding postoperative concerns and facilitate timely evaluation. 

PRN Responsibilities 

• Provide clinic coverage during provider absences and increased patient volumes. 

• Support postoperative clinics across kidney transplant, pancreas transplant, living donor, and transplant urology services. 

• Maintain competency in postoperative transplant surgery management. 

• Complete annual competency assessments and required institutional education. 

Qualifications 

Required 

• Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program. 

• Current state NP or PA license. 

• National board certification. 

• DEA registration (if applicable). 

• Current BLS certification. 

Preferred 

• ACLS certification. 

• Minimum of 2 years of surgery, transplant, nephrology, or urology experience. 

• Previous transplant surgery experience preferred. 

• Experience with Epic electronic medical record. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Knowledge of postoperative surgical management. 

• Familiarity with kidney, pancreas, and living donor transplantation. 

• Ability to recognize and manage early postoperative complications. 

• Knowledge of transplant immunosuppressive medications and common adverse effects. 

• Strong clinical assessment and critical thinking skills. 

• Excellent communication and patient education abilities. 

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary transplant team. 

• Strong organizational and documentation skills. 

Scope of Practice 

The APP independently manages routine postoperative follow-up visits for established transplant surgery patients, including assessment of recovery, wound and drain management, medication reconciliation, postoperative procedures, patient education, and coordination of care. Complex postoperative complications, graft dysfunction, immunosuppression management, and decisions regarding readmission or operative intervention are managed collaboratively with the transplant surgeon and transplant nephrologist.