Organ Donation Support Team: The Nurse Practitioner's Role

The number of organs being recovered for transplantation is increasing. Potential organ donors require a team of clinicians who possess expertise and skills to optimize organ function, coordinate care, and minimize potential conflicts of interest. Organ donation support teams are a unique way to provide these services, and nurse practitioners are well poised to provide this specialized care as part of these teams. This article reviews the emerging role nurse practitioners play as members of the organ donation support team. Nurse practitioners support potential organ donors by optimizing organs before donation. They apply their specialized clinical knowledge and skills to support patient care, coordinate care, and perform documentation. As organ donation continues to expand, nurse practitioners who are willing to participate on the organ donation support team need specific knowledge to support organs for transplant.