Nurses' attitudes toward organ donation: an Australian perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Nursing Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Australia faces declining organ donation rates, among the lowest globally.
• Nurses' attitudes and behaviors significantly influence organ donation, especially retrieval.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives is crucial for improving donation rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess paediatric nurses' attitudes and knowledge regarding organ donation.
• To compare organ donation knowledge between metropolitan and rural nursing staff.
• To identify key nursing roles in enhancing organ donation.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed paediatric nurses in a metropolitan children's hospital.
• Surveyed nurses in two rural hospitals.
• Assessed attitudes and knowledge levels concerning organ donation.

Main Results:

• Identified specific knowledge gaps and attitudes among paediatric nurses.
• Highlighted differences in perspectives between metropolitan and rural nurses.
• Confirmed the significant impact of nursing staff on organ donation processes.

Conclusions:

• Paediatric nurses' knowledge and attitudes are critical factors in organ donation.
• Targeted education and support for nurses can improve organ donation rates.
• Critical care and advanced practice nurses are pivotal in advancing organ donation efforts.