Responses of perioperative nurses to organ procurement surgery

For many hospitals, organ retrieval surgery has become a reality. Organ retrieval surgery is an emotive procedure, fraught with ethical and moral dilemmas (Barzizza, 1990; Kawamoto, 1992). Perioperative nurses who participate in the procurement phase of organ donation are subject to emotions that could be potentially difficult. There is a need for greater understanding of perioperative nurses and their responses to procurement surgery. Increased knowledge of the procedure of organ procurement surgery, in addition to greater emotional support and follow-up can only serve to improve perioperative nurses' belief in themselves as an important link in the process of organ donation, procurement and transplantation.