What do transplant nurses do?
Transplant nurses prepare patients for transplantation (liver/kidney), administer immunosuppression and antibiotics, and care for and manage patients post-transplant. They also perform a range of other activities, including:

• comprehensive professional handover reports
• participate in multidisciplinary patients management forums
• monitoring of patients liver or kidney transplant function through revision of their biochemistry, haematology and clinical pharmacology results
• perform technical activities that include the care and management of central venous catheters, indwelling urinary catheters wound drains, and patient controlled analgesia devices
• perform unit specific tasks that include venepuncture, intravenous cannulation, and clinical assessment of patients
• operation of biomedical equipment including 12 lead electrocardiograph (ECG) and bladder scanner
• prepare patients for radiological investigations such as perfusion scans, ultrasounds, cholangiograms, transplant kidney and liver biopsies
• assist with minor procedures at unit level such as open and closed liver biopsies
• administer cyctotoxics
• manage and coordinate patient care and activities in the transplant outpatients clinics

What career opportunities are available to transplant nurses?
Apart from attaining a higher position within the unit such as a level 2 nurse, an experienced transplant nurse can further develop their leadership and management skills within the clinical area. Expansion into clinical research, such as conducting clinical trials, as well as undertaking promotional work to heighten donor awareness in the community are other fulfilling roles available to transplant nurses. You can also:

• be an active member of the Transplant Nurses Association
• be an active member of the Transplant Sports Association
• act as a resource person for transplantation for the district, State, or interstate.
• take advantage of opportunities for relieving in a transplant coordinator position.

How do I become a transplant nurse?
To become a transplant nurse, you would preferably have 12 months' post-graduate experience in general surgical and medical nursing. Other advantages would be previous experience in caring for patients in high dependency environments and a comprehensive understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the liver, kidneys, and immune system. For more information on postgraduate course availability in this area, click here to go to the further education section.

Where can I find more information on transplant nursing?
Visit the Transplant Nurse's Association website: www.tna.asn.au