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Reducing emotional conflict during the organ donor process
1Intensive Care Unit, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ontario.
Official Journal of the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses
|May 29, 1999
Summary
Nurses play a critical role in organ donation, balancing family grief with patient care. Their attitudes significantly impact the organ donation process and family experiences.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Transplantation
- Bioethics
Background:
- Nurses are integral to the organ donation process, often experiencing ethical conflicts.
- The role involves managing family grief alongside aggressive medical care for brain-dead patients.
Observation:
- Nurses' perceptions and attitudes towards organ donation directly influence the process and family outcomes.
- A critical care nurse, with personal experience as part of an organ donor family, provides unique insights.
Findings:
- The study identifies the needs, emotional conflicts, and decision-making challenges faced by families during organ donation, as perceived by a nurse.
- Nurse support, facilitated by organ donor coordinators and the transplant community, is crucial for families.
Implications:
- Understanding nurses' experiences can improve support systems for both healthcare professionals and donor families.
- Enhanced support for nurses can positively influence the organ donation process and family coping mechanisms.