Organ Donation: The Nurse's Role

Course overview

Every day, an average of 13 people in the United States die waiting for an organ transplant. Behind that statistic are real patients, real families, and real opportunities that nurses are uniquely positioned to influence. This course examines the nurse's critical and multifaceted role throughout the organ donation process, beginning with the regulatory and organizational framework that governs deceased donation in the United States. Learners will explore the two primary pathways to deceased donation, donation after neurologic determination of death and donation after circulatory death, and the clinical, ethical, and logistical distinctions between them. From recognizing a potential donor and initiating the referral process to supporting families through devastating loss, communicating with compassion and clarity, and executing the complex clinical management required to preserve organ viability, nurses are essential partners in donation success. This course emphasizes practical, practice-ready knowledge that nurses can apply regardless of care setting, helping to close the persistent gap between organ supply and the more than 100,000 patients who remain on the national transplant waiting list. Learning Objectives By the end of this course, the participant will be able to: Describe the national landscape of organ donation and transplantation in the United States, including current statistics, the ongoing organ supply gap, and the regulatory framework governing the donation system. Differentiate between donation after neurologic determination of death and donation after circulatory death, including the clinical criteria, physiologic considerations, and ethical distinctions relevant to each pathway. Identify the nurse's role in early recognition of potential organ donors and timely referral to the organ procurement organization, including mandatory referral requirements and common barriers. Explain key principles of clinical management of the deceased donor, including hemodynamic goals, respiratory care, and the collaborative interdisciplinary approach to preserving organ viability. Apply evidence-based communication strategies when engaging families of potential organ donors, including decoupling notification of death from donation discussions and providing culturally responsive support during end-of-life care.