About International Transplant Nurses Society

The International Transplant Nurses Society was founded in 1992 as a non-profit organization, to promote the education and clinical practice excellence of nurses who are interested in and participate in the care of solid organ transplant patients. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, we have grown to become a leading respected transplant organization with over 1,780 active members worldwide.

ITNS is the first professional nursing organization to focus on the professional growth and development of the transplant clinician. ITNS offers nurses a forum for learning about the latest advances in transplantation and transplant patient care. Over the years, ITNS continues to provide nurses -- skilled in transplantation -- with many opportunities to share their expertise with national and international peers, and receive recognition for their knowledge and scholarly pursuits.

Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is committed to the field of transplantation and strives to maintain the mission and integrity of the Society through our activities and educational collaborations and are elected by active voting members via an electronic ballot. The Board follows the by-laws of the organization, which are reviewed and amended every two years at the General Assembly held in conjunction with our annual meeting.
Visit ITNS By-Laws (PDF)
Visit ITNS Board of Directors

Our Mission

ITNS is committed to the promotion of excellence in transplant clinical nursing by providing educational and professional growth opportunities, interdisciplinary networking and collaborative activities and transplant nursing research.

Our Goals

• Provide a network for communication among professional nurses with a focus and commitment to transplantation.
• Provide a means of continuing education for professional nurses with a focus in transplant nursing.
• Examine new trends in transplantation affecting patient care and the role of the transplant nurse.
• Promote and support research in transplant nursing.
• Distribute the results of scientific investigations among professionals interested in transplantation.
• Foster an awareness of ongoing ethical considerations in procurement, donation, and recipient awareness.
• Ensure the accomplishment of the proper and lawful purposes and objectives of the Society.

Our Members

Our membership has a very diverse geographical background, with 77% of members living in the USA, 12% in Canada and 10% living in Europe. 36% percent of our members classify themselves as transplant coordinators, 26% as staff nurses, 13% as clinical nurse specialists, 5% as charge nurses or team leaders and less than 5% are employed by a pharmaceutical company or have an interest in organ procurement. Abdominal transplantation -- including liver, kidney, pancreas and small bowel -- has the highest representation with over 65%. Thoracic transplantation -- including heart and lungs -- represent the remaining 35%. We offer a continuum of care from pre-transplant through post-transplant and offer education modules to those who work in adult transplantation and pediatric transplantation.

The ITNS Foundation

To facilitate our commitment to excellence in transplant nursing, the ITNS Foundation regularly awards grants and scholarships for leadership and scholarly pursuits. Over the years, recipients have used these funds to study a variety of issues critical to transplant patients and their families including adherence to drug regimens, quality of life issues, adolescent development, increasing donor rates and caregiver burdens. For more information and how you can help or make a donation, visit ITNS Foundation