Responses of Perioperative Nurses to Organ Procurement Surgery

Abstract

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.