A review of the literature on the perceptions and practices of operating room nurses regarding organ transplants from brain-dead donors

Abstract

【Objective】To clarify the perceptions and practices of operating room nurses involved in transplantation based on the literature.
【Methods】Searches were conducted in the Japanese Medical Journal Web Edition, CINAHL, and PubMed. Perceptions and practices of operating room nurses were extracted from the identified literature and organized into a matrix. For ethical considerations, only published papers were included, and sources were accurately cited.
【Results】The literature review identified 5 relevant publications. Regarding nurses' perceptions, individual nurses approach surgery with diverse feelings about death and organ transplantation, and they strive to cope with and come to terms with death. Regarding practice, only one study was found, describing only preoperative preparation.
【Conclusion】Five references documented nurses' perceptions, indicating that individual views on life and death and nursing philosophy significantly influence their perspectives. This suggests operating room nurses experience diverse psychological conflicts. Documentation of practice was limited to one reference. This scarcity is likely because preparations are conducted similarly to routine surgeries.