Brain death notification and organ donation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the knowledge of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses about organ donation when the donator presents encephalic death. The study is quantitative, descriptive, comparative and non-experimental. Data were collected in a philanthropic Hospital and in a private Hospital, and analyzed using proportional and absolute frequencies. Sample was composed by 31 ICU nurses, 19 from the philanthropic Hospital, and 12 from the private. The majority of the sample were female (78%) and ranging from 23 to 33 years of age. Half of the nurses in the philanthropic Hospital was specialized, compared to 100% in the private Hospital. Approximately 53% of the nurses had work experience ranging from six to nine years in the philanthropic hospital, and less than one year in the private hospital. Most of the nurses mentioned knowing the criteria to consider an encephalic death but rarely notifying the death, lacking knowledge on the related legislation and even on the necessary procedures to notify the National Transplantation System about a potential donator. When asked about the Donation Protocol of their Hospital, they were not able to inform the content. Results showed that the nurses in those ICUs were not adequately prepared for procedures related to encephalic death and maintenance of a potential donator. The study emphasizes the importance of preparing health staff to adequately proceed concerning organ donation when a patient presents encephalic death.