Attitudes of emergency nurses toward organ and tissue donation.

OBJECTIVE: Organ and tissue transplantation has gained increased acceptance as a medical procedure. Costs for most transplantations are reimbursed by insurance companies, and the list of transplantable tissues and organs has doubled during the past 10 years. To meet this resulting increased demand, more organs and tissues need to be recovered from potential donors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emergency nurses' attitudes and their intention to ask potential donor families if they will donate their family member's organs and tissues.

METHODS: Thirty hospitals were sent a letter inviting them to participate in this descriptive survey research design. Survey packets were sent to the 17 hospitals that responded positively to the request. Surveys contained a cover letter to the participants with directions and assurance that anonymity would be maintained. Completed surveys were returned directly to the researcher.

RESULTS: We found a relationship between the nurses' attitudes and the frequency with which they approached families regarding donation. Further analysis revealed that nurses' attitudes about organ and tissue donation were related to their confidence in asking families about donation. The study also demonstrated that emergency nurses want educational programs that offer information on how to approach donor families.

DISCUSSION: These results can be used to develop educational programs for emergency nurses to provide them information that can increase their confidence in asking families about donation and subsequently increase the number of families they approach regarding donation.