Onsite Donation Advocate

Position Overview:

Organization Overview:

Our organization is dedicated to transforming lives and inspiring all to donate life. We are a family of professionals working together to increase awareness around the need for organ and tissue donors alongside nurturing and guiding our families throughout the gift of life. We facilitate the recovery of organs, tissues, and corneas in Iowa. We honor donors and support donor families at the time of donation and on a continuing basis.

We believe in going above and beyond to support donor families during and after the donation process. Our core values are what guide us, allow us to excel at serving our community, and keep our culture at Iowa Donor Network alive.

Position Overview:

This position will provide potential donor families with the opportunity to donate organs, tissues, and/or eyes, and complete associated authorizations and medical and social history interview. Support is provided remotely or onsite as requested by the donor family. Daily activities include supporting potential donor families while collaborating with hospital clinical teams to facilitate the donation conversation. Our team's performance is measured by the outcome of the conversation, which includes advocating for the potential donor's voice, and the recipients waiting for transplants.

Job Qualifications:

• Requires a minimum two-year degree in the areas of Social Services, Psychology, Nursing, or other healthcare related field.
• Equivalent work experience involving complex family dynamics, such as death and dying, grief or loss is preferred.
• Crisis management experience preferred.

Schedule:

10-12, 24 call shifts from 6am-6am. Weekends and holidays expected.

Organization Responsibilities:

Essential Functions and Performance Responsibilities:

• Assess family dynamics and their understanding of the patient’s prognosis and, when appropriate, provide the opportunity for donation.
• Facilitate the donation discussion and authorization process for potential organ, tissue and/or eye donor families prior to, during and after declaration of death.
• Collaborate with clinical teams and family members to ensure a patient’s document of gift is honored.
• Ensure accurate completion of required paperwork, including medical questionnaire and authorization or disclosure form.
• Ensure effective and respectful communication and collaboration with clinical staff and other IDN team members.
• Serve as an organizational expert regarding family discussions and support during the donation conversation.
• Participate in process improvement and quality assurance activities.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to maintain control in challenging circumstances.
• Ability to navigate the strong emotions of others while sharing the opportunity for donation.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to a diverse audience.

Physical Requirements:

• Maintain a current valid driver’s license and be insurable through IDN’s insurance.
• Respond to call/page within 10 minutes and arrive to office/hospital within one hour of call as appropriate.
• Travel to the office and donor hospitals through the State of Iowa at any given hour of the day or night. This travel may occur under various weather conditions.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds.
• Must respond timely to IDN communication outside of scheduled shifts.
• Must receive required vaccines based on outlined schedules to protect our employees, healthcare personnel, donors, recipients, and families we may come into contact. (e.g., Influenza obtained annually by December 1st and COVID vaccine upon required timeline.)

Organizational Responsibilities:

• It is required that IDN employees demonstrate commitment to the mission and vision, maintain effective communication, exhibit teamwork, respect diversity, follow policies and procedures, maintain confidentiality of all donor, recipient and organizational information, demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness while meeting productivity standards, observe safety and security procedures, be consistently punctual and dependable, actively participate in performance improvement activities and continually demonstrate behavioral expectations and core values.
• Employee’s obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information shall survive the termination of employee’s employment with IDN.
• All requirements are subject to modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed in this position. I will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by my supervisor. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, I know that I must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. I realize neither the job description nor this document creates an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.