One of Erica Henderson's favorite things about her job as kidney transplant nurse coordinator at the Emory Transplant Center is the chance to build long-term relationships.

Henderson, BSN, RN, took the job three years ago after she learned about the organ-transplant process when she worked in Emory's care initiation unit. She helped care for a variety of patients — transfers from other hospitals, people awaiting transplant testing and patients being stabilized before admission into the hospital.

"As I started getting to know the transplant patients and the members of the transplant team, I realized that it was very different than anything I'd done before," said Henderson, who spent the early part of her career working in medical/surgery, orthopedics and labor and delivery.

"I found out that, on the transplant team, we work with the same patients over a longer period of time, and it gives us a chance to really get to know them," she said. "When I was in med/surge and orthopedics, I often didn't see the same patients."

Henderson works with the living-donor transplant team. She and other nurses take medical, social and family histories and perform blood work and blood cross-match testing. Once testing is complete, Henderson works with donors during the transplant process.

Sometimes she has to tell would-be donors that they're not suitable candidates.

"That's really the hardest part of my job, because, when donors come in, they are so passionate about being able to help their loved ones," she said.

Twice a week, she educates kidney disease patients about their options and the transplant experience.

At Emory, a transplant nurse coordinator must hold at least a bachelor of science degree. Henderson is studying for the American Board for Transplant Certification exam. To be eligible to take the test, a candidate must have completed 24 months as a registered nurse, including 12 months of caring for organ-transplant patients.

The salary for the job starts at about $60,000, based on the number of hours worked, overtime and experience, Henderson said.

For Henderson, the best part of her work always comes back to the relationships.

"When [potential donors] come in to be tested, you want to be right there with them, hoping they'll be a donor," she said. "That relationship continues through the process. I even have several donors from my first year here that call me from time to time just to see how I'm doing. This is a very rewarding job."