Organ and Tissue Donation

Contact Hours: 1

Author(s):

R.E. Hengsterman MSN, RN

Course Overview

In the organ and tissue donation process, nurses are vital in clinical care but also as coordinators and educators, bridging the gap between organ procurement organizations, physicians, and donor families. They are essential to patients and the ethical management of potential donors, advocating for patients’ needs and wishes and providing support to families during these challenging times.

In this course, learners will explore the specifics of the nurse’s involvement at every stage of the donation process—from the identification of potential donors, based on clinical criteria for brain death or cardiac arrest, to post-transplant care and support. By the end of this course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic role nurses play in the transplantation journey, equipped with the best practices to enhance donor management and increase successful transplantation outcomes.

Course Outline

  1. Introduction
  2. Becoming a Donor
  3. Determination of Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria
  4. The Nurse’s Role in Organ and Tissue Donation
  5. Ethical Considerations
  6. Medical Management of Potential Donors Before Brain Death
  7. Conclusion

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, the learner will rate a 4 out of 5 on the Likert Scale for their ability to:

  1. Explain the role of nurses in the pre-transplant, peri-transplant, and post-transplant phases.
  2. Discuss ethical considerations and the legal framework governing organ donation.
  3. Identify skills for effective communication and support strategies to assist families through the decision-making process.

Accreditations and Approvals

CE Credit Logo
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) (P0614)
  • California Board of Registered Nursing (CEP 17418)
  • Kentucky Board of Nursing (7-0090)
  • Louisiana State Board of Nursing (58)
  • Florida Board of Nursing (50-23983)
  • Delaware Board of Nursing (DE-24-010127)
  • Alabama Board of Nursing (#ABNP1577)
  • Iowa Board of Nursing (#393)
  • Kansas Board of Nursing (LT0340-0325)

Approved by the Board of Nursing in every state, you can complete your RN, LVN, and APRN CEUs with confidence.

Accreditation Statement

Nursing CE Central LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

It will take the average learner 60 minutes to complete and awards 1 contact hours of continuing education.

Written For

  • Registered Nurses (RN)
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)
  • Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN)

Requirements for Completion

  1. Enrollment in the course by the learner
  2. Read and learn all course materials
  3. Complete the course evaluation
  4. Attest and testify learning of the course materials

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships

Nursing CE Central nor any of the authors, planners, content experts, or any contributors have any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.