The nurse's role in disseminating culture in organ donation: a survey of knowledge and opinion

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In healthcare settings where potential organ donors could be identified, the importance of suitably trained nursing staff to support even complex organizational processes aimed at optimizing the availability of human organs and tissues has been proven. However, this importance is only sometimes fully perceived as strategic.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the perception of the role of the nurse in organ and tissue donation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: a survey was conducted by administering an online questionnaire found in the literature. A convenience sample was recruited from the entire nursing staff with at least one year of previous work experience. Descriptive analyzes were conducted using Microsoft® Excel 2010.

RESULTS: 82% of nurses in a transplant coordination role know that their unit focuses on organ donation; among other nurses, only 69% are aware of it. 83% of healthcare professionals who treated at least one donation encountered difficulties during the entire process, citing the bureaucratic aspects as the greatest fear to face, followed by the relationship with family members and patient maintenance. The majority of nurses are in favor of transplantation (90%), but only 17% believe they are sufficiently trained, including all of the transplant coordinators.

CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence that it is still difficult for nurses to know and apply the different phases of the donation process. This fact could be attributed to an incomplete perception of the peculiarities of the role they may play in identifying, maintaining, and respecting the ethical principles and wishes of the donor.