A phenomenographic study of ICU-nurses’ perceptions of and attitudes to organ donation and care of potential donors

Summary 

There is a lack of organs for transplantation and the number of potential organ donors is limited. Several studies indicate that the most crucial factor is the attitude to organ donation among intensive care staff. The aim of this study was to describe intensive and critical care nurses’ (ICU-nurses) perceptions of organ donation based on their experience of caring for potential organ donors. A phenomenographic method was chosen. Nine nurses from three different Swedish hospitals were interviewed. All were women; aged 36–53 years, with 3–27 years’ ICU experience. The analysis revealed the crucial perception “nothing must go wrong”. The findings can be described in three parts: organ donation as a situation, organ donation as a phenomenon and different attitudes to organ donation. In conclusion: various perceptions adopted by ICU nurses might influence the chances of a potential donor becoming an actual donor. This study demonstrates that nurses who promote organ donation strive to fulfil the will of the potential donor by taking responsibility for the perception that “nothing must go wrong”.

Keywords: Organ donation, Intensive care, Brain death, Nursing, Attitudes