07/20/2025
“As the Kidney/Pancreas Pre-transplant Nurse Coordinator for Penn PTI, I love being one of the first people patients see when they come in for their initial introduction to our team. I become one of the faces of PTI for them and it’s my job to make them feel comfortable, get them to relax, and start building their trust in me.
Our patients are everyday people looking for another chance at life. Their unique personalities come through from that very first visit. Since I’ll be working with them for at least 3 months – sometimes more – to coordinate the evaluation process, I always try to connect with them through some sort of commonality. Gaining their trust from day one is very important and helps make the process go smoothly.
I started working as a post-op kidney/pancreas/liver nurse right out of school and loved it right from the start. That experience transformed the whole focus of my nursing career.
I also worked as a dialysis nurse, which gave me perspective about what patients go through prior to transplant. There is nothing nonchalant about dialysis. The process takes over a patient’s life while they wait for an organ. That experience helped me better understand the patients whom I work with in my current position.
I’ve been with Penn PTI since September 2021, and I absolutely love it. Everything I’ve done in my career has led me to this. There’s nothing else I’d want to do! It’s very rewarding to be the guide at the beginning of a patient’s transplant experience. The process can be overwhelming and it’s my job to educate them as well as their support person, make sure they understand everything, and set expectations for both before and after transplant. And I’m always available to them. All they have to do is pick up the phone and call.
The most difficult part of my job is telling a patient they aren’t a candidate for transplant. I have to adequately explain why they aren’t a candidate at this time and make sure they understand and are comfortable with the information. It takes a lot of empathy and sensitivity to give them the right information. I also encourage them to focus on their health and work with their medical team to improve their chances of becoming a candidate in the future if possible. I have had patients follow the instructions, improve their health, and come back to be transplanted when they were previously denied.
One patient I’ll never forget was an older patient going through a difficult post-transplant experience. This patient survived another 15 years – enough time to spend time with grandchildren and live a full life. Attitude is everything and it’s so important to go through this process with the right attitude. There will be really tough days, but knowing they will pass, focusing on whatever goal the patient has, and knowing it’s well worth it in the end… that’s what matters.
In my free time, I enjoy being an active participant in my community. I have a supportive husband and many rescued fur babies."
Melissa Parsonson, BSN
Pre-Transplant Nurse Coordinator, Kidney/Pancreas
Penn Transplant Institute
