Organ donation: comparison of nurses' participation in two states

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The number of organs available for transplantation in the United States is insufficient, and the donor rate in New Jersey is particularly low. OBJECTIVES: To explore reasons nurses do or do not refer organ donors and to identify factors that contribute to differences in referral rates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. METHODS: Registered nurses (N = 976) in 57 nongovernmental acute care hospitals, primarily in emergency departments and intensive care units, completed a questionnaire that focused on their knowledge and participation in the organ procurement process. RESULTS: Two-thirds of the subjects said they had participated in organ procurement. Pennsylvania nurses had a significantly higher involvement rate than New Jersey nurses. Pennsylvania nurses were also slightly more knowledgeable about the process. A higher proportion of nurses in both states who attended continuing education programs participated. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses need more inservice education regarding policies and procedures for organ donation.

A study of the perception and experiences of critical care nurses in caring for potential and actual organ donors: implications for nurse education

“…Approval of cadaver organ donation and the notion of prolonging life through human organ transplants was strongly upheld, by 91 3% and 95 2% of respondents, respectively These findings were similar to those of recent Amencan studies (Stoeckle 1990, Adams et al 1993 The question of violating human rights by removing organs from a brain stem dead beating heart donor saw a shift from this very positive attitude, with 9 7% of nurses feehng that this was indeed a violation while 10 7% remained undecided (20 4% m total)…”

Trauma and tribulation: the experiences and attitudes of operating room nurses working with organ donors

“…Studies have revealed that nurses are more positive about donation when they are less involved with the surgical process of organ donation or retrieval (Cantwell & Clifford, 2000). For instance, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses have been found to be significantly more positive regarding organ donation than operating room (OR) nurses (Kilberd & Kilberd, 1992) and nurses who did not work in a transplant hospital reported higher willingness to be involved in organ procurement than among nurses who did (Adams et al. , 1993).…”

Are Front Line Health Professionals Responsible for the Organ Crisis?

“…Of the 45 papers reviewed, 25 stipulated the importance of approaching relatives for consent/assent. Adams et al 40 carried out a study to explore the motives that RNs (n=976) had for not referring potential organ donors. The top reasons were lack of knowledge and lack of potential donors.…”