Nursing team and organ donation: an integrative literature review

Abstract The nursing team takes the lead in decision making related to organ donation process and family care as both are part of its work. This study aimed at identifying nursing team’s actions and activities directed to the families of potential organ donors in brain death from an integrative literature review. The final sample consisted of 10 articles whose analysis pointed to the central role played by nursing in creating bonds with the potential donor’s family, especially considering the difficulty of family members in understanding the death process. The sample also indicated urgent need to implement training programs for nursing teams in order to help reduce their suffering while in contact with families experiencing this situation. As a conclusion, family care requires several complex activities, including rigorous preparation and humanization to deal with family members and professionals.

摘要 护理团队牵头制定与器官捐献流程及家庭照护相关的决策，二者均属于其工作职责范畴。本研究通过整合性文献综述，旨在明确护理团队针对脑死亡潜在器官捐献者家属的护理行为与实践活动。最终纳入10篇文献开展分析，结果显示，护理团队在与潜在器官捐献者家属建立情感联结方面发挥核心作用，尤其考虑到家属在理解死亡进程时所面临的诸多困境。研究样本同时表明，亟需为护理团队实施专项培训项目，以助力减轻此类困境家庭所承受的痛苦。综上，家庭照护涉及多项复杂工作，包括严谨的筹备与人性化照护实践，以妥善应对家属及其他医护人员的相关事宜。