Nurses’ Knowledge about Potential Donor Maintenance in the Intensive Care Unit

Objectives: To assess the knowledge of nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) regarding the maintenance of potential organ and tissue donors for transplantation. Methods: This is a descriptive exploratory study with a quantitative approach. The study was conducted in the adult ICUs of a highly complex hospital. Data collection began in January 2025. Study participants were 44 nurses working in the ICU, on the day service, and on the night service. The collected information was recorded and organized in a database using spreadsheets developed in Microsoft Excel 2019. Simple descriptive statistics and percentages were used for data analysis to provide a summary of the data and observations. The study followed all ethical and legal principles governing research involving human subjects, in compliance with Resolution no. 466/12 of the National Health Council. It was initiated only after approval from the research ethics committee. Results: Most participants had specialized training in ICUs, and approximately 43.18% had worked in ICUs for 1 to 3 years. Among the professionals evaluated, 65.91% responded that they felt prepared to assist potential organ and tissue donors, but had not worked with the organ and tissue donation process. Conclusion: The study results revealed that some professionals still lack scientific knowledge about patient care, resulting in weaknesses and discrepancies in some of the care provided. The importance of health education, the development of protocols, guidelines, and ongoing training and development are emphasized to improve brain death protocols and retain donor potential.