Are we overlooking a hidden source of organs?

Nursing, Jan 2000 by Popernack, Myra L

By equipping ourselves with more information, we'll be better able to support and inform the families who look to us-nurses at the bedside-for guidance. By doing so, we'll be helping to facilitate organ procurement in this time of critical need.

SELECTED WEB SITES

Institute of Medicine:

http://www.iom.edu

TransWeb:

http://transweb.org

United Network for Organ Sharing:

http://www.unos.org

Last accessed on December 3, 1999.

SELECTED REFERENCES

Edwards, J., et aL: "Non-Heart-Beating Organ Donation: Process and Review," AACN Clinical Issues in Critical Care Nursing. 10(2):293-300, May 1999. Institute of Medicine: Non-Heart-Beating Organ Transplantation: Medical and Ethical Issues in Procurement. Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, 1997.

Lewis, D., and Valerius, W.: "Organs from Non-Heart-Beating Donors: An Answer to the Organ Shortage," Critical Care Nurse. 19(2):70-74, April 1999. Weiskittel, R: "ANNA Provides Testimony to IOM on Non-Heart-Beating Organ Transplantation," ANNA Update. 29(4):3-4, July/August 1999.

Complete reference listing available upon request.

BY MYRA L. POPERNACK, RN, CCRN

Senior Nurse-Clinician, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Children's Hospital

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center * Hershey, Pa.