Meaning of nursing care to brain dead potential organ donors

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To understand the meanings of care to brain dead potential organ donors for nurses, and construct a theoretical model.

METHOD

Qualitative study based on the Grounded Theory approach. Data were collected through open interviews with 12 nurses, distributed in three sample groups in a university hospital in northeastern Brazil, from December 2010 to June 2011.

RESULTS

The phenomenon Unveiling multiple relationships and interactions of nurses in the complexity of patient care in brain dead potential donors is supported by the interrelationship of five categories and results from the need to organize care practices in the context of the intensive care unit, considering the factors involved in the relationship between nurses, staff and family and reveals challenges for nurses imposed by the complexity of the care process.

CONCLUSIONS

The meaning of care to brain dead potential donors involves understanding the complexity of this patient who can save somebody’s life through organ donation.

Keywords:
Nursing care; Brain death; Tissue and organ procurement; Nurse-patient relationships; Critical care.