Is This Work Right for Me?
Authorization work is deeply meaningful—and emotionally demanding. Here's an honest look at what the job requires.
Let's Be Honest
This work saves lives. It's also hard. You'll talk to families at their lowest moments. You'll work nights, weekends, and holidays. Some conversations will go beautifully. Others will end in "no," no matter how skilled you are. You can't take it personally, but you also can't stop caring.
What This Work Demands
Emotional Resilience
You'll encounter anger, grief, family conflict, and moral distress—sometimes all in one conversation. You need to stay calm when a father is yelling, composed when a mother is sobbing, and grounded when siblings disagree.
Ask yourself: Can I stay regulated when someone else is dysregulated?
Schedule Flexibility
Most authorization work happens outside business hours. Expect overnight shifts, weekend rotations, holiday coverage, and on-call responsibilities. Deaths don't follow a 9-to-5 schedule.
Ask yourself: Can my personal life support unpredictable, 24/7 availability?
Comfort with Death
You'll talk about death every day. Not euphemistically—directly. You'll discuss tissue recovery procedures, brain death, and donation logistics with families who are still processing the loss.
Ask yourself: Am I genuinely comfortable talking about death without discomfort or avoidance?
Tolerance for "No"
Even with perfect technique, many families will decline. Authorization rates vary, but you'll hear "no" often. You have to accept that outcome without internalizing it as personal failure.
Ask yourself: Can I do my best work and still accept outcomes I can't control?
Continuous Learning
You'll receive ongoing coaching on your conversations—tone, pacing, word choice, objection handling. Feedback will be direct. You need to take it non-defensively and implement changes quickly.
Ask yourself: Am I coachable? Can I hear constructive feedback without taking it as criticism?
You Might Thrive in This Work If...
You've supported families through end-of-life decisions before (hospice, ICU, palliative care)
You can de-escalate tense situations without becoming defensive
You're motivated by mission and measurable impact, not just a paycheck
You have strong boundaries—you care deeply but don't carry work trauma home
You're comfortable working independently, often overnight, with manager support available
You value work where every conversation has life-or-death stakes