Death, dying, and organ donation

Abstract An important aspect of nursing practice is caring for people in the last days and hours of their life, whether in a hospice, a clinical environment, or their own homes. While death may be sudden and unexpected, or the anticipated result of an intractable health condition, the effective support of dying people and their families is an important aspect of nursing care. The UK Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People describes key principles to guide nurses who are working with people and families at the end of life. Organ and tissue donation is an integral part of end-of-life care and should be considered for all patients who meet the criteria. The organs and tissues from one donor can save several lives and impact the quality of life of numerous other people, and the UK now operates an ‘opt-out’ organ donor system. While the management of organ donation is the remit of specialist practitioners, general nurses are an important conduit between families and specialist services. This chapter discusses key nursing principles in death, dying, and organ donation. It also considers loss, grief, and bereavement, and how nurses may continue to support the bereaved after a person has died.