Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
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The increasing need and limited sources for organs has stimulated a renewed interest in non-heart-beating organ donation (NHBOD). NHBOD is the donation of organs from cadavers that have been declared dead by cardiopulmonary criteria. Emerging protocols for heparin administration to the potential non-heart-beating organ donor (NHBD) deserve scrutiny. ⋯ Nurses are guided by codes that require the consideration of the ethical principles of autonomy, informed consent, beneficence, and justice while providing compassionate care. An eagerness to procure viable organs for positive transplant outcomes must not be the guiding force in protocols that allow the administration of heparin to the potential NHBD. Heparin administration is supported for these donors within specific parameters.