Intensive care nurses' experiences of caring for brain dead organ donor patients

Citation
A. Pearson et al., Intensive care nurses' experiences of caring for brain dead organ donor patients, J CLIN NURS, 10(1), 2001, pp. 132-139
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
ISSN journal
09621067 → ACNP
Volume
10
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
132 - 139
Database
ISI
SICI code
0962-1067(200101)10:1<132:ICNEOC>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
This study was designed to identify the feelings and experiences of critica l care nurses who have been involved in nursing brain dead patients prior t o organ donation. The purpose of the study was to generate knowledge which informs the discip line of nursing. A number of themes relating to nurses' experiences of caring for brain dead organ donor patients mere uncovered in this interpretative study. Overall, caring for patients who are diagnosed as brain dead is a challengi ng experience for nurses and they are intensely involved in a search for me aning in each event. The interpretative analysis in this study has revealed a range of meanings articulated by the nurses involved. However, the primary focus of care - as identified by the participating nurses - was the donor family.