Optimizing deceased donor management is critical to maximizing the gift and increasing the number of organs transplanted. Training the bedside donor coordinator in critical care practices and deceased donor management can be challenging. Staff can come from varied backgrounds and may have limited experience in the critical care environment. Much of the challenge lies in developing and fostering critical thinking skills. The Donor Process Model is a goal-directed systematic approach to deceased donor management. It is based on the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation and is seen through the lens of deceased donor physiology. It allows the coordinator to take a systematic approach to a particular clinical problem or overall presentation and implement an intervention leading to improved outcomes.
