Exploring the challenges experienced by Intensive Care Unit nurses during the organ donation process: a scoping review

Selvaraj, Nelson, Baillie, Jessica ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4592-7286, Edwards, Deborah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1885-9297 and Jones, Jonathan 2025. Exploring the challenges experienced by Intensive Care Unit nurses during the organ donation process: a scoping review. Presented at: RCN International Nursing Research Conference 2025, Exeter, UK, 8 - 10 September 2025. Nursing Research: Transforming Global Health in a Changing World (Conference Abstracts). RCN, p. 144.

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Abstract

Background Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses play an important role in facilitating the organ donation process (Holthe and Husby, 2023). However, caring for potential organ donors and their families can be a challenging prospect for many ICU nurses. Given the heterogeneous nature of donor care (Emilie et al. 2022), a scoping review to explore available evidence on the challenges that ICU nurses experience during the organ donation process is valuable. Aims To explore the challenges experienced by ICU nurses during the organ donation process and identify models or strategies that may support them when caring for potential organ donors and their families during the organ donation process. Methods The review followed JBI methodology for scoping reviews and was reported using PRISMA-ScR. The following databases were searched for eligible studies from the first available start date of the individual database to December 2023: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, OVID EMCARE (all via Ovid), Cochrane library, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL (via EBSCO). A public representative with family experience of organ donation was involved in developing the protocol and search strategy. The review protocol was registered on Open Science Framework. Results A total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were qualitative (n=20) and most originated from non-European countries (n=21). Seven key challenges were identified: direct patient care, care of the families, concept of brain death, ethical challenges, emotional challenges, challenges around communication and organizational challenges. Support models include debriefing and reflection, training and education, organisational support and availability of guidelines and protocols for organ donation. Conclusion ICU nurses experience several challenges during the organ donation process. Improved understanding of the nature of challenges can facilitate the implementation of supportive strategies which will ultimately improve the quality of care, consent rates and the overall experience of nurses and donors’ families. References Emilie G et al (2022). Intensive Care Nurses' Experiences of Caring during the Organ Donor Process in Sweden - a Qualitative Study. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 15(2), pp. 720-726 Holthe E and Husby V (2023). Barriers to Organ Donation: A Qualitative Study of Intensive Care Nurses' Experiences, Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 42(5), pp. 277-285

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Speech)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Healthcare Sciences Schools > Biosciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RT Nursing
Publisher:	RCN
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	18 September 2025
Date of Acceptance:	1 May 2025
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2025 11:01
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/181186

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