1. Maintaining Your Kidney Transplant: The Winning Game Plan
E. Christine Deters, RN, MSN, MPH, CCTC
Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator
Memorial Medical Center, Springfield IL

2. Hi. This is Chris from Memorial Transplant. Do you have time to talk
Hi! This is Chris from Memorial Transplant. Do you have time to talk? We have a potential organ for you…

3. Objectives State the Post-Transplant Discharge follow up plan of care.
Recall 3-5 behaviors that promote healthy transplant maintenance.
Identify 3-5 lifestyle habits that reduce risk for long-term complications.

4. Hospitalization Only days to hours notice.
Admission is usually 4 to 6 days.
Daily rounds with a multidisciplinary team.
Focus on education.

5. Hospitalization and Follow up
Transplant Anastomosis vs.
DVD Connections

6. Introducing Your Starting Line-up…
Multidisciplinary Transplant Team
Transplant Surgeon
Transplant Nephrologist
Pharmacist
Transplant Nurse Coordinator
Social Worker
Dietician
Financial Coordinator
Expert Bedside Nurse
“I play a complicated position in an intensely team-oriented game” – Tom Brady

7. Follow care plan: Tapering clinic visits
Routine labs, blood and urine.
Medications, Medications, Medications…
Start new ones
Stop old ones
Constant changes

8. Rules of the Game 1. Clinic visits are IMPORTANT
“Come to practice, or else!”
2. Get your labs when you are told to get your labs.
“Timing is everything”
3. Take your medications.
“Quitting is not an option”
4. There will be complications, talk to your team.
“The key to winning is poise under stress” – Paul Brown
5. Honor your donor
“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it” – George Halas

9. The Opposing Offense: Rejection
Defensive Strategies:
Defense Game Plan
Immunosuppression
Lab Monitoring
Audible: Tackling the Rejection
Biopsy
Treatment Options
IV Medications
Plasmaphoresis
Relisting/ Retransplant

10. Avoiding Penalties: Reducing risk of long-term complications:
Post transplant patients have an increased risk for:
Diabetes
Healthy lifestyle, diet, and exercise.
Infections
Preventative medications
Report any new symptoms
Cancers
Stick to the follow up plan
Routine Screenings