Knowledge of postgraduate nursing students on the diagnosis of brain death and the management of the potential organ donor
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17267/2317-3378rec.2026.e6699Keywords:
Brain death, Tissue and Organ Procurement, Students, Nursing, KnowledgeAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the knowledge of postgraduate nursing students regarding the brain death protocol and the management of potential donors. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive and exploratory quantitative study was conducted with 68 nurses regularly enrolled in postgraduate courses in Intensive Care and High Complexity and in Urgency and Emergency, at a private higher education institution in Brazil. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, with calculation of absolute and relative frequencies. RESULTS: It was observed that 100% of the participants recognize the importance of mastering the brain death protocol, although only 66.2% correctly identified the requirements for initiating the protocol and 63.2% are unaware of the correct procedures for making the diagnosis. All participants believe in the need for continuous training, but 83.8% report low confidence in managing potential donors. The lack of understanding of the diagnosis is a challenging factor for nursing professionals, as it is cited as a major reason for family refusal (80.9%). CONCLUSION: The study highlights knowledge gaps regarding the diagnosis of brain death and donor management, which go beyond initial academic training. The insecurity reported by professionals confirms the urgency of continuous training and specific training to ensure compliance with protocols.
Downloads
References
1. Spears W, Mian A, Greer D. Brain death: a clinical overview. J Intensive Care. 2022;10(1):16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40560-022-00609-4
2. Portaria GM/MS Nº 5.612, de 23 de outubro de 2024 (Brasil). Dispõe sobre a execução da Resolução GMC nº 25/23, de 14 de setembro de 2023, do Grupo Mercado Comum, que aprova os requisitos de boas práticas para diagnóstico de morte encefálica. [Internet]. Ministério da Saúde. Disponível em: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2024/prt5612_24_10_2024.html
3. Conselho Federal de Medicina (Brasil). Resolução nº 2.173/2017, de 23 de novembro de 2017. Define os critérios do diagnóstico de morte encefálica. [Internet]. Diário Oficial da União. Disponível em: https://saude.rs.gov.br/upload/arquivos/carga20171205/19140504-resolucao-do-conselho-federal-de-medicina-2173-2017.pdf
4. Associação Brasileira de Transplante de Órgãos. Registro Brasileiro de Transplantes (RBT): Dimensionamento dos Transplantes no Brasil e em cada estado. Registro Brasileiro de Transplantes (2016-2023) [Internet]. São Paulo: Associação Brasileira de Transplante de Órgãos (ABTO); 2023. p. 6–26. Disponível em: https://site.abto.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/rbt2023-restrito.pdf
5. Furtado LBS, Moraes Filho IM, Sousa TV, Roure JGR, Lima TP, Arantes AA, et al. O papel do enfermeiro frente a casos de morte encefálica e doação de órgãos e tecidos. Res Soc Dev. 2021;10(2):e0110212422. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i2.12422
6. Saxena D, Trivedi P, Bhavsar P, Memon F, Thaker A, Chaudhary C, et al. Challenges and Motivators to Organ Donation: A Qualitative Exploratory Study in Gujarat, India. Int J Gen Med. 2023;16:151-9. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S393240
7. Westphal GA, Robinson CC, Cavalcanti AB, Gonçalves ARR, Guterres CM, Teixeira C, et al. Diretrizes brasileiras para o manejo de potenciais doadores de órgãos em morte encefálica. Uma força tarefa composta por Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Associação Brasileira de Transplantes de Órgãos, Brazilian Research in Critical Care Network e Coordenação Geral do Sistema Nacional de Transplantes. Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2021;33(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.5935/0103-507X.20210001
8. Bastos VS, Lima AMSA, Maramaldo ICR. Conhecimento dos enfermeiros sobre a manutenção do potencial doador de órgãos e tecidos para transplante. Braz J Transplant. 2025; 28:e4325. https://doi.org/10.53855/bjt.v28i1.724_PORT
9. Bergiante NCR, Meza LA, Alves IC, Accioly JVC. A multimethodological approach to organ donation logistics:systemic analysis of brazilian federal units through qualitative system dynamics and efficiency assessment using data envelopment analysis. Pesqui Oper. 2024;44:e276126. https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-7438.2023.043.00276126
10. Rodrigues SLL, Boin IFSF, Zambelli HJL, Sardinha LAC, Ataíde EC, Fernandes MEN. Fatores relacionados à não autorização da doação de órgãos e tecidos junto a familiares que recusaram a doação. Braz J Transpl. 2021;24(4):10-8. https://doi.org/10.53855/bjt.v24i4.429
11. Al-Fatlawi AM, Alkhaqani AL, Alroubaey DAA. Nurses’ Knowledge about the Brain Death Criteria: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Immunology and Nursing Dynamics. 2025;1(2):7-18. https://doi.org/10.46610/IJIND.2025.v01i02.002
12. Akbulut S, Demyati K, Tamer M, Unsal S, Beyoglu S, Saritas H. Knowledge levels, attitudes, and awareness of nurses toward organ donation. North Clin Istanb. 2022;9(4):367-75. https://doi.org/10.14744/nci.2022.24478
13. Costa VC, Nascimento MML, Silva JEL, Silva BCV, Melo NRM, Guimarães TMRG. Conhecimento da equipe de saúde sobre protocolo de morte encefálica e manutenção do potencial doador. Revista de Pesquisa Cuidado é Fundamental Online. [Internet]. 2021;13:1499–505. Disponível em: https://seer.unirio.br/cuidadofundamental/article/view/10229
14. Dana GA, Almeida CG, Souza LA, Tavares SS, Contini ICP. Conhecimento dos enfermeiros sobre o processo de diagnóstico e manutenção hemodinâmica nos pacientes em morte encefálica: uma pesquisa de opinião. Rev Saúde Foco [Internet]. 2023;15:120-32. Disponível em: https://portal.unisepe.com.br/unifia/wp-content/uploads/sites/10001/2023/03/CONHECIMENTO-DOS-ENFERMEIROS-SOBRE-O-PROCESSO-DE-DIAGNO%CC%81STICO-E-MANUTENC%CC%A7A%CC%83O-HEMODINA%CC%82MICA-NOS-PACIENTES.pdf
15. Roth NT, Åkerman E. Critical Care Nurses’ Perceptions and Experiences of the Organ Donation Process: A Systematic Review. Nurs Open. 2026;13(1):e70420. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.70420
16. Watanabe RA, Araújo CM, Rodrigues VT, Bezerra JKM. Conhecimento da equipe multiprofissional acerca do manejo clínico do potencial doador. Rev Cient Esc [Internet]. 2024;10:1-7. Disponível em: https://www.revista.esap.go.gov.br/index.php/resap/article/view/769/447
17. Cavalcanti NB, Silva ACM, Nascimento JWA. Morte encefálica: conhecimentos e obstáculos de enfermeiros acerca do cuidar. Brazilian Journal of Health Review. 2021;4(1):2586–99. https://doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv4n1-208
18. Oliveira AFCG, Cardoso RAB, Freitas KC, Lotte EJ, Lucas BL. Lacunas e Fatores Impeditivos da Doação de Órgãos no Brasil: Revisão de Literatura. Braz J Transplant. 2023;26:e2723. https://doi.org/10.53855/bjt.v26i1.520_PORT
19. Bas-Sarmiento P, Coronil-Espinosa S, Poza-Méndez M, Fernández-Gutiérrez M. Intervention programme to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of nursing students towards organ donation and transplantation: A randomised controlled trial. Nurse Educ Pract. 2023;68:103596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103596
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Marília dos Santos Nunes Simões, Maria Clara Silva Marinho da Costa, Alexandra Noemi Silva
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
