FREE ESSAY ON ORGAN DONOR & FAMILY

ORGAN DONOR & FAMILY

Ever since organ donation became a way of saving lives, there has been a shortage of
organ
donators. Attempts are being made to solve the organ donor shortage by meeting the
bereaved 
family's needs. Aspects of the grieving process are considered in attempts to reconcile
the need 
of donated organs and lessen the trauma to the family of asking for the organ donation.
Factors 
that influence the experience of grief for the family are examined in an attempt to
lessen the pain. 
Many factors affect how bereaved individuals will respond to a loss. The loss is not
always
immediate since some patients may linger on for hours or days. It is also hard for the
family if
their love one is brain dead because it is difficult to consider it the same as death.
Physical 
and psychological factors were looked at. These two factors determine a person's reaction
to the 
loss and role-played in the morning process. These issues were addressed in detail in an
attempt
to understand what stage of the morning processes the person is in.
The relationship of the deceased person to the bereaved member is an important factor in
determining what impact the patient's death will have. The loss of a child may so grieve
parents 
that they inadvertently ignore surviving children. Men also are easily overlooked in the
grieving 
process because they generally are more reluctant to express their feelings publicly and
may not
receive the support they need. It was clearly stated that just because people played
similar roles
did not mean they experienced the same feelings of grief.
If the circumstances of the death were violent, it was more painful for the bereaved
family
members to comprehend its reality. The same exists when details of the death were
unknown.
Family networks, church affiliations and friends who can support a bereaved person 
during the mourning process help in facilitating the recovery process.
Frequently the critical care nurse is placed in a position of asking the bereaved family
to consider donating organs from the loved one they have just lost or are soon expected
to lose.
All factors involved in the grieving process must be considered and nursing staff or
organ donor
support staffs have to be very sensitive to the needs of the bereaved person. The nurse
has to 
assist the bereaved person through as much of the grieving process as possible. The
feelings of 
the bereaved person by the nurse through sensitive, uncondemning acknowledgement. It was
felt by the author that a nurse who has become familiar to the family and has shared in
its
tragedy may be the person who can most sensitively suggest organ donation at the critical

moment. The family needs to have an opportunity to say their good-bys.
Reflecting on this reading, today's nurses have a big responsibility in trying to decide
the
"right" time to ask the family for the organ donation. Timing is everything in this
situation. I
gained a better understanding of what these nurses go through and how difficult it must
be for
them. On the other hand, I know there must be a wonderful feeling when they are able to 
obtain an organ and save a life. 
I've never considered all the factors mentioned in this article about death and grieving.
I 
know that it is difficult to consider the possibility of donating one's own organs or
those of a
loved one, especially children. This issue is more often addressed after a tragedy
strikes. This
article has had a great impact on me. After reviewing the factors involving the grieving
process
in detail, it was clearly stated that the possibility of organ donation should be
addressed more
calmly and objectively before an actual tragedy strikes. Having prepared for such a
possibility
can make it more bearable for the family and the nursing staff.
Bibliography
Braynman, K.L., Vianello, A., Morel, P., Payne, W.D., Sutherland, D.E. (1996). The organ
donor. Critical Care Clinics,6(4), 821-839