The nurse's responsibility with a perspective organ donation

Nurse's Role in Educating Potential Organ Donors and Their Families

The nurse should educate potential organ donors and their families about the following:

• The benefits and risks of organ donation.
• The different types of organ donation.
• The donation process.
• The impact of organ donation on the donor and the recipient.

Nurse's Role in Assessing the Potential Organ Donor's Medical Suitability for Donation

The nurse should assess the potential organ donor's medical suitability for donation by:

• Reviewing the donor's medical history.
• Performing a physical examination.
• Ordering and reviewing laboratory tests.
• Consulting with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and specialists.

Nurse's Role in Coordinating the Donation Process with the OPO

The nurse should coordinate the donation process with the OPO by:

• Notifying the OPO of the potential organ donor.
• Providing the OPO with the donor's medical information.
• Assisting the OPO with the evaluation of the donor's organs.
• Transporting the donor to the transplant hospital, if necessary.

Nurse's Role in Providing Support to the Potential Organ Donor's Family

The nurse should provide support to the potential organ donor's family by:

• Answering their questions and concerns.
• Providing emotional support.
• Helping them to understand the donation process.
• Connecting them with resources and support groups.

Absolute Contraindications for Donation

Absolute contraindications for organ donation include:

• Active infection.
• Malignancy.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Active hepatitis B or C infection.
• Severe cardiovascular disease.
• Severe pulmonary disease.
• Severe neurological disease.

Difference Between Organ and Tissue Donation

Organ donation is the donation of a solid organ, such as a heart, kidney, liver, lung, or pancreas. Tissue donation is the donation of a tissue, such as skin, bone, heart valves, or corneas.

Organ donors must be declared brain dead before their organs can be donated. Tissue donors can be either brain dead or deceased by circulatory criteria.

Organ donation saves lives. Tissue donation improves and saves lives.

Nurse's Responsibility with a Perspective Organ Donation

The nurse's responsibility with a perspective organ donation is to:

• Identify potential organ donors.
• Educate potential organ donors and their families about the donation process.
• Assess the potential organ donor's medical suitability for donation.
• Coordinate the donation process with the organ procurement organization (OPO).
• Provide support to the potential organ donor's family before, during, and after the donation.