Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping Review

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: In recent years, the introduction of specialist nurses, such as donation coordinator nurses, has been proposed as a potentially effective strategy to increase the number of donations and improve the quality of the process. However, experiences in this field...

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Main Authors: Donato Longo, Nicola Ramacciati, Gian Domenico Giusti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Nursing Reports
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/2/39
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author Donato Longo
Nicola Ramacciati
Gian Domenico Giusti
author_facet Donato Longo
Nicola Ramacciati
Gian Domenico Giusti
author_sort Donato Longo
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: In recent years, the introduction of specialist nurses, such as donation coordinator nurses, has been proposed as a potentially effective strategy to increase the number of donations and improve the quality of the process. However, experiences in this field are still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the inclusion of this professional in health systems, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. <b>Methods</b>: A scoping review was performed. Studies published from 1990 to 2024 were included regardless of the study design. The bibliographic search was performed on the databases MedLine, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo and on the search engines EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. The search strings included keywords such as organ donation, transplant, procurement, and nursing role. The extraction and selection of articles were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and with the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute for scoping reviews. The protocol study was prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework database on 3 December 2023, with registration number osf.io/wzxr3. <b>Results</b>: From the included studies, it emerged that the involvement of a nurse coordinator in the donation process is significantly associated with an increase in the number of organ donors and higher rates of family consent to donation. Additionally, the studies highlighted enhanced effectiveness in identifying potential donors and improvements in the training and preparedness of healthcare staff. <b>Conclusions</b>: The nurse coordinator in the donation process can have positive effects both on the management of the process and on the increase in the number of organ and tissue donations.
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spelling doaj-art-35ab11c2115a44d6b99d22d97074f3c42025-08-20T02:01:24ZengMDPI AGNursing Reports2039-439X2039-44032025-01-011523910.3390/nursrep15020039Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping ReviewDonato Longo0Nicola Ramacciati1Gian Domenico Giusti2Intensive Care Unit, “Vito Fazzi” Hospital, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyMedicine and Surgery Department, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy<b>Background/Objectives</b>: In recent years, the introduction of specialist nurses, such as donation coordinator nurses, has been proposed as a potentially effective strategy to increase the number of donations and improve the quality of the process. However, experiences in this field are still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the inclusion of this professional in health systems, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. <b>Methods</b>: A scoping review was performed. Studies published from 1990 to 2024 were included regardless of the study design. The bibliographic search was performed on the databases MedLine, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo and on the search engines EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. The search strings included keywords such as organ donation, transplant, procurement, and nursing role. The extraction and selection of articles were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and with the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute for scoping reviews. The protocol study was prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework database on 3 December 2023, with registration number osf.io/wzxr3. <b>Results</b>: From the included studies, it emerged that the involvement of a nurse coordinator in the donation process is significantly associated with an increase in the number of organ donors and higher rates of family consent to donation. Additionally, the studies highlighted enhanced effectiveness in identifying potential donors and improvements in the training and preparedness of healthcare staff. <b>Conclusions</b>: The nurse coordinator in the donation process can have positive effects both on the management of the process and on the increase in the number of organ and tissue donations.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/2/39transplantnursespecialistdonationscoping review
spellingShingle Donato Longo
Nicola Ramacciati
Gian Domenico Giusti
Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping Review
Nursing Reports
transplant
nurse
specialist
donation
scoping review
title Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping Review
title_full Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping Review
title_short Nurse Specialist in the Organ and Tissue Donation Process with Coordination Role: A Scoping Review
title_sort nurse specialist in the organ and tissue donation process with coordination role a scoping review
topic transplant
nurse
specialist
donation
scoping review
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/2/39
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AT nicolaramacciati nursespecialistintheorganandtissuedonationprocesswithcoordinationroleascopingreview
AT giandomenicogiusti nursespecialistintheorganandtissuedonationprocesswithcoordinationroleascopingreview