Nursing and the procurement of organs and tissues in the acute care hospital setting

Organ and tissue transplantations are now well established procedures; however, a scarcity of donors and the obstacles encountered during the procurement process have resulted in a growing shortage of organs and tissues. This paper reviews the issues surrounding the procurement process and the role that nurses play in that process. Two case studies are presented and discussed in order to identify important issues to address with the family (i. e., clarification about the meaning of brain death, the impact of donation on funeral arrangements, and the costs of donation) and to suggest practical strategies for approaching these issues.