Donation Advocate

Overview

Advance into a career that blends purpose with professional growth as a Donation Advocate at UF Health in Gainesville, Florida. Our community offers the perfect balance of lifestyle, blending natural beauty, innovation, cultural vibrancy, and year-round outdoor recreation. It’s a place where professionals thrive both personally and professionally. UF Health is consistently ranked among the nation’s best hospitals and we are committed to excellence in healthcare. We value the expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment our Donation Advocates bring to patients and their families each day. Here, patients always come first and so do our people. Make your next career move to UF Health. 

UF Health Experience & Rewards:

• Level 1 trauma center and teaching hospital
• FACT accredited NCI-designated cancer institute
• Bone Marrow and Solid Organ Transplant Center
• Accrued PTO and holidays
• Annual salary reviews
• PSLF-eligible employer
• Tuition reimbursement
• Competitive healthcare/retirement plans
• Wellness programs

Responsibilities

The Donation Advocate's primary responsibilities:

1. Advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation through notification of donation intent with potential organ donor families or obtaining authorization for donation from donor families on potential donors who have not declared their donation intent.
2. Information is to be articulated in an easily understood and accurate manner to families whose ability to process information is impaired by emotionally traumatic circumstances.
3. Coordinates and facilitates emotional support during and after the discussion of the donation process remaining aware and sensitive to diversity of all kinds (cultural, religious, educational, etc.) while working with families and hospital staff.
4. Primary first responder to donor referrals from partner hospitals.
5. Responds to referrals as outlined in standards of practice within LifeQuest policies.
6. Obtain, when able, a past medical social history.

Schedule

FTE: 1.0

Shift hours: Variable

Days of week: Variable

Service area: Gainesville, FL

***Position requires extensive monthly on-call duties for 24-7 referral response to hospitals as determined by the director of donation advocacy, manager of donation advocacy or other members of senior leadership.***

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• A Registered Nurse or Master’s Degree in Social Work or Clinical Psychology; OR
• A Bachelor’s Degree in related allied health field with a minimum of one year of practical experience in an acute health care setting, hospice, bereavement counseling center, chaplaincy, palliative care, or equivalent work experience with active involvement in issues involving death, dying, grief and loss. OR
• Candidates who meet minimum qualifications for an organ procurement coordinator position or hospital services coordinator; OR
• A candidate with Associate degree and one year of applicable work experience within an OPO or tissue bank that involved interaction with donor hospitals, referral response, and requesting consent for donation options with families.
• Must be able to demonstrate outstanding interpersonal communication skills in order to interact with grieving families in a supportive, empathic manner while taking into consideration actual or potential cultural diversities.
• Ability to comfortably use electronic devices to access and utilize database, draft letters, send/receive email, and access the Internet and community for vital information/resources to assist donor families.

Licensure/Certification/Registration: None

Motor Vehicle Operator Designation: Employees in this position: Will operate vehicles for an assigned business purpose as a "frequent driver" NOTE:  A frequent driver is defined as one who uses his/her personal or Shands automobile a) at least once daily, b) at least five individual trips per week or c) drives, on average, over 150 miles per week in the performance of his/her job.