Nurses and Organ Donation

Trauma Columnist · Jul 14, 2009

I am an organ donor and would easily donate a relative's organs if they had not made a decision. I work in nephrology and many of my pts would benefit from transplant.

sh1901 · Jul 14, 2009

I would donate my organs and would also have no issue with donating those of a loved one.:redbeathe

I don't think that nurses should "have" to be organ donors. I think that it is still a personal decision - regardless of your occupation. I do think that nurses and doctors as organ donors sends a strong message to the general public, but then again, how would the general public know? It's not like it's common knowledge.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jul 14, 2009

I would not donate my organs and do not feel that HCPs should feel obligated to do so..

keithjones · Jul 14, 2009

is there really a rush to pull the plug on patients who are organ donors like you hear about? i know that stories of things like that happening keep a lot of people from donating! i got the sticker on my license anyhow.

GOMER42 · Jul 14, 2009

When I went through my EMT program, we were told that in the case of a major trauma we were to notify the receiving facility that we had an organ donor on the way so that they could prep the OR for the organ procurement team rather than the trauma team.

After that, I removed my donor status from my license but informed my loved ones that I wished to donate instead.

DroogieRN · Jul 14, 2009

I'm not an organ donor.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jul 14, 2009

yes, if i was brain dead i would want my organs to go to someone else. what do i need them for?

i do agree with you tho GOMER, as far as having it on your license--i was a medic prior to being a nurse and i would be on the phone with life alliance before we even made it to the ER. where i work, when they call a trauma alert, alot of the times the pt doesnt even make it onto the OR table because they have died in transport... and then sometimes it is too late for organ procurement. i guess it would make sense at facilities like ours that take large amounts of trauma to have both teams ready when a trauma alert is called?

leslie :-D · Jul 14, 2009

my 16 yo son and i, were talking about this very subject today.

he is going for his driver's permit, and said that he didn't want to donate his organs.

he was under the impression that once someone sees you're an organ donor (aeb driver's license), someone may kill you for your organs. ( :confused: )

i assured him it wouldn't happen in this country.

(a teen's mind never ceases to amaze me)

anyways, yes, take my organs...

any and all of them.

and that goes for my loved ones, as well.

leslie

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jul 14, 2009

I personally think that Organ donation should be an opt out rather than an op in....IOW you have to choose not to be an organ donor..........

I am a donor without any question...

WalkieTalkie, RN · Jul 15, 2009

I would like my organs donated and I would have no problem donating my loved ones. My parents and SO are all organ donors.

However, after seeing some of the patients who get organs, it often makes me think twice... I wish I could dictate who could get my organs, but unfortunately, that is not an option. I just go on my happy way with notating it on my license and hoping that if my organs are ever donated that they go to people who will actually appreciate them and are compliant with their meds...

allnurses Guide · Jul 15, 2009

Absolutely. I work in heart transplant though, so I get to see the amazing benefits.

@cOntagion - unfortunately, many recipients are in their situation due to their situation in life and/or their choices. Doesn't make them any less worthy of a chance.. there is a strict process dictating who is approved for transplant eligibility, and compliance is a huge component. We had a patient with a history of drug use who had to go to NA, attend anger management classes, have clean urine/blood tox screens etc for a considerable period of time before he was ever listed.