Objective: This study was planned to determine the knowledge, attitudes and approaches of intensive care nurses regarding organ/tissue donation and transplantation and to contribute to the related studies.

Material and Method: This study a cross-sectional descriptive research. It was planned from 25 November 2010 to 1 February 2011 to all (306) intensive care nurses working in intensive care units of three different education and research hospitals in Istanbul and completed with 150 participants. In the research, data were collected by applying a questionnaire prepared for intensive care nurses. Data were evaluated using percentage and chi-square test.

Results: Although 73.3% of the intensive care nurses participating in the study supported organ/tissue donation and transplation, 88.7% did not make organ/tissue donation. It was determined that 36.7% of intensive care nurses did not donate organ and tissue because of not having never thought donating organ and tissue, 24.7% of them did not donate because of having distrust, and 16.7% did not donate because of having fear. İn addition, only 64.7% of the participants had sufficient information about the subject.

Conclusions: Intensive care nurses with sufficient knowledge, positive attitude and approach about organ donation and transplantation play an important role especially in increasing the number of cadaveric donations and transfers. It is thought that the awareness and effectiveness of intensive care nurses in organ donation and transplantation will be possible with comprehensive trainings.

Organ donation Nursing Intensive care