“No One Seems to See Us, and They Look at Us as Worthless Colleagues”: Challenges Experienced by Iranian Transplant Nurse Coordinators—A Qualitative Study

Abstract

BackgroundTransplant nurse coordinators have close and long‐term interactions with organ donor families throughout the organ donation process. Due to the responsibilities and high sensitivity of organ transplant coordination, transplant nurse coordinators face several stressful challenges. This study aimed to explore the challenges faced by Iranian transplant nurse coordinators.MethodsThis is a qualitative study conducted using qualitative content analysis. This study was conducted from February to September 2023. Semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with a total of 14 transplant nurse coordinators. Data were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis proposed by Graneheim and Lundman.Results“Challenges of living as a transplant nurse coordinator” was identified as the main category, the subcategories of which included “consent‐obtaining obstacles,” “exposure to violence,” “compassion fatigue,” “obsessive thoughts,” “work–life imbalance,” and “hardworking coordinators in the shadow.”ConclusionsThe challenges experienced by transplant nurse coordinators can lead to several negative consequences, including job burnout and turnover, reduced quality of family and marital life, additional healthcare costs, and reduced organ donation rate. To address these challenges, cultivating a culture of organ donation in society could involve public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives. Improving the working conditions and occupational incentives could include reducing work hours, providing psychological support, and increasing salaries. Implementing psychological interventions could involve regular counseling sessions and stress management programs. These measures can effectively reduce the challenges transplant nurse coordinators face and improve their overall well‐being and job satisfaction.