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Lauren Nicks

RN, BSN, CTPC
In 2025, I am answering the call to... support and fulfill a donor's generous gift.
Job Title: Manager of Maximize the Gift - Donor Management
Organization: Iowa Donor Network
Age: 36
Years in Donation and Transplantation: 6
What makes your career in organ donation and transplantation special?

I have seen a lot of change and growth in my time within the organization. We have gone through organizational redesign which drastically changed the structure and responsibilities within the organization. I was apart of the training many team members to allocation and leading OR.

I transitioned into a manager role after there was a major shift in our department and only had about 25% staff on each team. My teams and I worked tirelessly to ensure there was schedule coverage and donors were appropriately managed. Through all of this, we have continued to grow throughout the last 2 years in number of organs transplanted and employee satisfaction. I am continuously trying to find solutions to improve job satisfaction and explore new ways to maximize each donor's gifts of donation.

Biography

Lauren Nicks, RN, BSN, CPTC, is the Manager of Maximize the Gift – Donor Management at Iowa Donor Network, where she leads a multidisciplinary team of Organ Donation Coordinators and Organ Resource Supervisors. With nearly six years in the donation field and a background in critical care nursing, Nicks is a respected leader known for operational excellence, clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to staff development.

She was nominated for The Alliance 40 Under 40 by Betsy Robertson, Director of Maximize the Gift at Iowa Donor Network. “Under Lauren’s leadership, our team has experienced reduced turnover, boosted morale, and achieved one of the highest engagement scores in the organization,” Robertson shared. “She listens actively, empowers frontline staff, and has led some of our most impactful clinical improvements.”

In 2024, Nicks spearheaded an initiative to enhance Iowa Donor Network’s lung management practices — a change that led to a remarkable 60% increase in lungs transplanted that year. Her ability to translate frontline feedback into strategic improvement has advanced the organization’s mission while honoring the integrity of each donor case.

Nicks joined Iowa Donor Network in 2019 as an Organ Donation Coordinator, managing donor cases, allocating organs, and leading operating room recoveries. She later became a Team Lead, where she helped train and onboard new clinical staff before assuming her current leadership role in 2023. In recognition of her contributions, she was honored with the Louis Geist, MD Award for Excellence in 2023, which celebrates individuals who exemplify innovation, advocacy, collaboration, and education in donation and transplant.

Prior to her career in donation, Nicks served as an ICU nurse in adult critical care and neuro-intensive care units. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Saint Mary and achieved her Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC) designation in 2022.

Lauren Nicks is a results-driven and values-centered leader whose work continues to improve clinical outcomes, support team engagement, and elevate donation practice standards across her organization.