An Examination of Nursing Students' Knowledge About Organ Donation

Background: Nurses play an important role in educating the public about organ donation, but only if they themselves are knowledgeable on the topic.This study examined nursing students' knowledge of common myths and misconceptions related to organ donation. Method: Nursing students (N = 232) completed an anonymous online survey. Eight true/false questions assessed nursing students' knowledge of organ donation. Results: Overall, nursing students were knowledgeable about organ donation, correctly answering on average 5.55 of 8 questions. Nursing students were least likely to believe the myths that medical providers are untrustworthy and that organ donors are unable to have an open casket funeral, but they were most likely to believe the myth that there is a black market for organ donation in the United States. Conclusion: The results provide useful data to nurse educators seeking to prepare the next generation of nurses to be knowledgeable and competent communicators on the topic of organ donation.