Nursing strategies for coping with the care of a potential organ donor

Abstract

This work aimed to understand strategies that the nursing staff from an Intensive Care Unit applies to situations involving the care of a person with brain death as a potential donor. The study was conducted through qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research, carried out by 14 members of the nursing staff who work with the potential organ donor. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and a thematic context analysis was applied. The strategies of coping focused on emotion were: escape from reality, and reframe the event. And the strategies focused on the problem were: provide competent care, and search for other support. It is concluded that caring for a person with brain death is constituted as a very stressful event to the nursing professionals. These professionals need institutional support to better cope with these situations, because depending on how they manage their task, it may directly influence the assistance provided to patients.

Conhecimento de Profissionais Técnicos de Enfermagem Acerca da Temática de Morte Encefálica e o Processo de Doação e Transplantes de Órgãos

“…13 O baixo percentual de doações efetivadas é resultado de desafios encontrados pela equipe no processo de identificação e manutenção dos potenciais doadores, bem como com a ignorância referente ao tema e as adversidades estruturais do sistema de saúde, problemas que podem ser classificados como universais. 14,15 A atuação dos profissionais da área da saúde, em especial dos integrantes da equipe de enfermagem, é imprescindível no processo de doação de órgãos e tecidos. São eles que prestam cuidado ao potencial doador de órgãos, identificando formalidades legais do processo e possíveis complicações como instabilidade cardiovascular, desarranjos metabólicos e hipoperfusão tecidual.…”

Knowledge of Technical Nursing Professionals About the Subject of Brain Death and the Process of OrganDonation and Transplantation

“…13 The low percentage of effective donations is the result of challenges encountered by the team in the process of identifying and maintaining potential donors, as well as ignorance regarding the subject and the structural adversities of the health system, problems that can be classified as universal. 14,15 The work of health professionals, especially members of the nursing team, is essential in organ and tissue donation. They are the ones who provide care to the potential organ donor, identifying legal formalities of the process and possible complications such as cardiovascular instability, metabolic disorders and tissue hypoperfusion.…”