Nurse skills in the process of organ and tissue donation for transplantation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47456/rbps.v27i1.44507Keywords:
Nursing Care, Tissue and Organ Procurement, Tissue Donors, NursingAbstract
Introduction: The process of organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Brazil involves management at both national and state levels. In this context, nurses play a key role in the coordination of nursing care, with practices aimed at optimizing and ensuring transparency throughout the process, maintaining organ viability, and supporting families experiencing grief, thereby contributing to the effectiveness of donation. Objective: To analyze the nurse’s competencies in the process of organ and tissue donation for transplantation. Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted between April and May 2024 using the MEDLINE, Scopus, LILACS, BDENF, and IBECS databases. A combination of controlled descriptors from the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) was used, associated using the Boolean operator AND. A total of 34 studies were included. Results: The nurse’s competencies in organ and tissue donation encompass the entire process—from monitoring the donor to providing counseling and support to the family—always grounded in ethical and humanized care. Conclusion: Nursing care management in the context of organ and tissue donation includes the care provided to the donor and their family, as well as the technical and procedural aspects of donation. The nurse’s competencies are expressed through knowledge, skills, attitudes, and practices that ensure quality care for potential brain-dead donors and their families.
Downloads
References
Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Sistema Nacional de Transplantes [Internet]. Brasília: Ministério da Saú-de; 2024 [citado 2024 set 27]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/composicao/saes/snt
Silva IC, Oldoni AE, Zanardo JC, Jacobina LP. The scenario of organ and tissue donation for post-mortem transplantation in the 16th Health Region/RS. Braz J Transplant [Internet]. 2023;26:e3023. doi: 10.53855/bjt.v26i1.511_ENG
Associação Brasileira de Transplante de Órgãos. Dados numéricos da doação de órgãos e transplan-tes realizados por estado e instituição no período janeiro/setembro-2023. Reg Bras Transpl. 2023;24(3):3–16. Disponível em: https://site.abto.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rbt2023-3trim-naoassociados.pdf
Corsi CAC, Assunção-Luiz AV, Monteiro-Silva A, Scarpelini KCG, Bento RL, Ribeiro MS, et al. A im-portância da reconstituição do corpo de doadores de órgãos e tecidos: um olhar sobre a dignidade humana. Braz J Transplant [Internet]. 2024;27:e1624. doi: 10.53855/bjt.v27i1.566_PORT
Knihs NS, Santos ACB, Magalhães ALP, Barbosa SFF, Paim SMS, Santos J. Management of nurse care in the organ and tissue donation process. Texto Contexto Enferm [Internet]. 2020;29:e20180445. doi: 10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2018-0445
Basso LD, Salbego C, Gomes IEM, Ramos TK, Antunes AP, Almeida PP. Dificuldades enfrentadas e condutas evidenciadas na atuação do enfermeiro frente à doação de órgãos: revisão integrativa. Cienc Cuid Saude [Internet]. 2020;18(1):1–8. doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v18i1.42020
Mendes KS, Silveira RCCP, Galvão CM. Revisão integrativa: método de pesquisa para a incorporação de evidências na saúde e na enfermagem. Texto Contexto Enferm [Internet]. 2008;17(4):758–64. doi: 10.1590/S0104-07072008000400018
Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ [Internet]. 2021;372:n71. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n71
Santos CMC, Pimenta CAM, Nobre MRC. A estratégia PICO para a construção da pergunta de pesquisa e busca de evidências. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem [Internet]. 2007;15(3):508–11. doi: 10.1590/S0104-11692007000300023
Ursi ES, Galvão CM. Prevenção de lesões de pele no perioperatório: revisão integrativa da literatura. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem [Internet]. 2006;14(1):124–31. doi: 10.1590/S0104-11692006000100017
Mattos SM, Cestari VRF, Moreira TMM. Protocolo de revisão de escopo: aperfeiçoamento do guia PRISMA-ScR. Rev Enferm UFPI [Internet]. 2023;12(1):e3062. doi: 10.26694/reufpi.v12i1.3062
Dantas AMN, Silva KL, Reichert APS, Oliveira JS, Nóbrega MML. Análise léxica dos termos “cresci-mento e desenvolvimento” infantil. Acta Paul Enferm [Internet]. 2023;36:eAPE03192. doi: 10.37689/acta-ape/2023AR03192
Alves MP, Rodrigues FS, Cunha KS, Higashi GDC, Nascimento ERP, Erdmann AL. Processo de morte encefálica: significado para enfermeiros de uma unidade de terapia intensiva. Rev Baiana Enferm [Internet]. 2019;33:e28033. doi: 10.18471/rbe.v33.28033
Marcondes C, Costa AMDC, Pessôa J, Couto RM. Abordagem familiar para a doação de órgãos: per-cepção dos enfermeiros. Rev Enferm UFPE online [Internet]. 2019;13(5):1253–63. doi: 10.5205/1981-8963-v13i5a236511p1253-1263-2019
Magalhães ALP, Oliveira RJT, Ramos SF, Lobato MM, Knihs NS, Silva EL. Gerência do cuidado de enfermagem ao paciente em morte encefálica. Rev Enferm UFPE online [Internet]. 2019;13(4):1124–32. doi: 10.5205/1981-8963-v13i4a238433p1124-1132-2019
Karaman A, Akyolcu N. Role of intensive care nurses on guiding patients’ families/relatives to organ donation. Pak J Med Sci [Internet]. 2019;35(4):1115–21. doi: 10.12669/pjms.35.4.1285
Martínez-Alarcón L, Fernández-Aceñero MJ, Pérez-Alonso M, et al. Nursing students’ knowledge about organ donation and transplantation: a Spanish multicenter study. Transplant Proc [Internet]. 2019;51(9):3008–11. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2019.08.019
Contiero PP, Wilson DM. Understanding ambivalence toward organ donation and transplantation: an exploratory study of nursing students. Nurse Educ Today [Internet]. 2019;76:191–5. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2019.02.008
Victorino JP, Mendes KDS, Westin UM, Magro JTJ, Corsi CAC, Ventura CAA. Perspectives toward brain death diagnosis and management of the potential organ donor. Nurs Ethics [Internet]. 2019;26(6):1886–96. doi: 10.1177/0969733018791335
Simonsson J, Keijzer K, Söderfeldt T, Forsberg A. Intensive critical care nurses with limited experience: experiences of caring for an organ donor during the donation process. J Clin Nurs [Internet]. 2020;29(10):1614–22. doi: 10.1111/jocn.15195
Smith Z. Perioperative nurses’ experiences of caring for donation after cardiac death organ donors and their family within the operating room. J Perioper Pract [Internet]. 2020;30(3):69–78. doi: 10.1177/1750458919850729
Alonso VF, Ceña DP, Martín CS, Pozo AG. Facilitators and barriers in the organ donation process: a qualitative study among nurse transplant coordinators. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2020;17(21):7996. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17217996
Fernández-Alonso V, Palacios-Ceña D, Silva-Martín C, García-Pozo A. Attitudes towards multi-organ donation among intensive care unit nurses in transplant hospitals. Int Nurs Rev [Internet]. 2021;68(3):308–17. doi: 10.1111/inr.12639
Fernández-Alonso V, Palacios-Ceña D, Silva-Martín C, García-Pozo A. Facilitators and barriers in the organ donation process: a qualitative study among nurse transplant coordinators. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2020;17(21):7996. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17217996
Laughlin LM, Neukirchinger B, Monks J, Duncalf S, Noyes J. Seeking consent for organ donation: pro-cess evaluation of implementing a new specialist requester nursing role. J Adv Nurs [Internet]. 2021;77(2):845–68. doi: 10.1111/jan.14601
Withes M, ten Hoopen R, Hoedemaekers C, van Mook W, van Heurn E. Appointing nurses trained in organ donation to improve family consent rates. Nurs Crit Care [Internet]. 2020;25(5):299–304. doi: 10.1111/nicc.12462
Knihs NS, Santos ACB, Magalhães ALP, Barbosa SFF, Paim SMS, Santos J. Management of nurse care in the organ and tissue donation process. Texto Contexto Enferm [Internet]. 2020;29:e20180445. doi: 10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2018-0445
Rossato GC, Girardon-Perlini NMO, Cogo SB, Nietsche EA, Dalmolin A. Non-donor families’ experi-ences in cases of brain death. Rev Enferm UERJ [Internet]. 2020;28:e51140. doi: 10.12957/reuerj.2020.51140
Gezginci E, Goktas S, Caglayan S. Ethical and cultural issues in transplantation: the views and atti-tudes of nurses. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl [Internet]. 2020;31(5):1042–50. doi: 10.4103/1319-2442.301169
Tolfo F, Siqueira HCH, Scarton J, Cezar-Vaz MR, Santos JLG, Rodrigues ST, et al. Obtaining tissues and organs: empowering actions of nurses in the light of ecosystem thinking. Rev Bras Enferm [Internet]. 2021;74(2):e20200983. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0983
Oliveira FF, Honorato AK, Oliveira LSG. Fragilidades e vivências de enfermeiros na abordagem à família do doador de órgãos e tecidos. Nursing (São Paulo) [Internet]. 2021;24(280):6157–68. doi: 10.36489/nursing.2021v24i280p6157-6168
Paim SMS, Knihs NS, Pessoa JLE, Magalhães ALP, Wachholz LF, Treviso P. Biovigilância no processo de doação de órgãos e tecidos durante a pandemia: desafios para o enfermeiro. Esc. Anna. Nery [Internet]. 2021;25: e20210086. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-9465-EAN-2021-0086
Chowdhury RK, Dora J, Das P. Awareness of eye donation among medical and nursing students: a comparative study. Indian J Ophthalmol [Internet]. 2021;69(6):1511–5. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2053_20
Chuang YM, Yeh SS, Tseng CF, Tsen CC. Soliciting organ donations by medical personnel and organ donation coordinators: a factor analysis. PLoS One [Internet]. 2021;16(4):e0250249. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250249
Barreto LNM, Salgado PO, Ribeiro CP, Alves TL. Nursing diagnosis for potential organ donors: accura-cy study. Clin Nurs Res [Internet]. 2022;31(1):60–8. doi: 10.1177/10547738211019435
Oliveira FF, Honorato AK, Oliveira LSG. Fragilidades e vivências de enfermeiros na abordagem à família do doador de órgãos e tecidos. Nursing (São Paulo) [Internet]. 2021;24(280):6157–68. doi: 10.36489/nursing.2021v24i280p6157-6168
Arıburnu Ö, Gül Ş, Dinç L. Nurses’ perspectives and experiences regarding organ transplantation in Turkey: a qualitative study. J Relig Health [Internet]. 2022;61(3):1936–50. doi: 10.1007/s10943-022-01500-0
Nieto-Galván R, Jiménez-García MM, Pérez-San-Gregorio MA, Romero-Carmona M. Nurse intervention: attitudes and knowledge about organ donation and transplantation in adolescents. Transplant Proc [Internet]. 2022;54(7):1697–700. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2022.05.032
Urquhart R, Kureshi N, Dirk J, Weiss M, Beed S. Nurse knowledge and attitudes towards organ dona-tion and deemed consent: the Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act in Nova Scotia. Can J Anesth [Internet]. 2023;70(2):245–52. doi: 10.1007/s12630-022-02372-4
Fernández-Alonso V, Palacios-Ceña D, Silva-Martín C, García-Pozo A. Deceased donor’s family experience during the organ donation process: a qualitative study. Acta Paul Enferm [Internet]. 2022;35:eAPE039004334. doi: 10.37689/acta-ape/2022AO0043349
Manduca KA, Jaramillo NP, López AG, Luque FG. Evaluación del conocimiento en donación de órganos y tejidos de los profesionales de salud asociados con servicios de cuidado crítico y urgencias. Rev Salud Uninorte [Internet]. 2021;37(1):21–37. doi: 10.14482/sun.37.1.616.025
Avilés L, Kena S, Tocher J. Ambiguous loss in organ donor families: a constructivist grounded theory. J Clin Nurs [Internet]. 2023;32(17):6504–18. doi: 10.1111/jocn.16574
Silva VS, Pereira R, Costa F, Zhang H, Ahmed S. Understanding organ donation processes and structures in Ontario: a social network analysis approach. Soc Sci Med [Internet]. 2022;310:115243. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115243
Bas-Sarmiento P, Coronil-Espinosa A, Poza-Méndez M, Fernández-Gutiérrez M. Intervention programme to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of nursing students towards organ donation and transplantation: a randomised controlled trial. Nurse Educ Pract [Internet]. 2023;68:103596. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103596
Urquhart R, Kureshi N, Weiss M, Beed S. Nurse knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation and deemed consent: the Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act in Nova Scotia. Can J Anesth [Internet]. 2023;70(2):245–52. (Duplicada da ref. 38)
Flores CML, Siqueira HCH, Scarton J, Cezar-Vaz MR, Santos JLG, Rodrigues ST, et al. Care for poten-tial brain-dead organ donors in an adult emergency room: a convergent care perspective. Texto Contexto Enferm [Internet]. 2023;32:e20230032. doi: 10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2023-0032en
Bezerra GD, Clementino KMF, Silva MIC, Domingos JEP, Araújo IS, Vidal ECF, et al. Potenciais do-adores de órgãos com morte cerebral: caracterização e identificação de diagnósticos de enferma-gem. Cogit Enferm [Internet]. 2023;28:e87978. doi: 10.1590/ce.v28i0.87978
Greer DM, Shemie SD, Lewis A, Torrance S, Varelas P, Goldenberg FD. Determination of brain death/death by neurologic criteria: The World Brain Death Project. JAMA [Internet]. 2020;324(11):1078–97. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.11586
Yazdimoghaddam H, Manzari ZS, Mohammadi E. Nurses’ challenges in caring for an organ donor brain dead patient and their solution strategies: a systematic review. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res [Internet]. 2020;25(4):265–72. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_226_1
Costa AM, Marcondes C, Pessoa J, Couto RM. Abordagem familiar para a doação de órgãos: per-cepção dos enfermeiros. Rev Enferm UFPE online [Internet]. 2019;13(5):1253–63. doi: 10.5205/1981-8963-v13i5a236511p1253-1263-2019
Mitchell A. Breaking bad news. Nurs Stand [Internet]. 2022;37(5):43–9. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e11898
Longuiniere ACF, Lobo MP, Leite PL, Barros RCS, Souza AN, Vieira SNS. Conhecimento de enfer-meiros intensivistas acerca do processo de diagnóstico da morte encefálica. Rev Rene [Internet]. 2016;17(5):691–8. doi: 10.15253/2175-6783.2016000500015
Kerstis B, Widarsson M. When life ceases—relatives’ experiences when a family member is confirmed brain dead and becomes a potential organ donor: a literature review. SAGE Open Nurs [Internet]. 2020;6:2377960820922031. doi: 10.1177/2377960820922031
Rayan A, Al-Ghabeesh SH, Qarallah I. Critical care nurses’ attitudes, roles, and barriers regarding breaking bad news. SAGE Open Nurs [Internet]. 2022;8:23779608221089999. doi: 10.1177/23779608221089999
Knihs NS, Santos ACB, Magalhães ALP, Barbosa SFF, Paim SMS, Santos J. Management of nurse care in the organ and tissue donation process. Texto Contexto Enferm [Internet]. 2021;29:e20180445. doi: 10.1590/19U80-265X-TCE-2018-0445
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Brazilian Journal of Health Research

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The Revista Brasileira de Pesquisa em Saúde (RBPS) adopts the CC BY 4.0 license, which means that authors retain the copyright of the works they submit to the journal. Authors are responsible for declaring that their contribution is an original manuscript, that it has not been previously published, and that it is not under simultaneous review by another scientific journal. Upon submitting the manuscript, authors grant RBPS the exclusive right of first publication, subject to peer review.
Authors are permitted to enter into additional contracts for the non-exclusive distribution of the version published by RBPS (for example, in institutional repositories or as a book chapter), provided that due acknowledgment of authorship and of initial publication by RBPS is given. Authors are also encouraged to make their work available online (for example, in institutional repositories or on their personal pages) after its initial publication in the journal, with due acknowledgment of authorship and of the original publication by RBPS.
Accordingly, under the CC BY 4.0 license, readers have the right to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially;
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.