Introduction: Early identification of potential organ donor in the ICU is a critical first step in the organ donation process.  Unfortunately, despite established protocols, a significant number of potential donors are missed due to delayed recognition or inconsistent screening practices. These missed opportunities adversely affect organ availability for transplantation. To address this issue, a nurse-led initiative was introduced in the ICU to support early donor identification using the Potential Organ Donation Checklist. The checklist is triggered when a patient is placed on partial code status (also known as Limitation of Care), prompting ICU nurses to assess eligibility for organ donation and initiate referral to the organ donation team when criteria are met.
Methods: This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a checklist-based approach in improving the early detection and referral of potential organ donors. A retrospective review of ICU organ donor referrals was conducted over a one-year period following the checklist’s implementation. Referral data from this period were compared with referral data from the preceding year, prior to the introduction of the checklist. The analysis focused on changes in total referral volume and the proportion of referrals initiated by nursing staff, reflecting nurse engagement and the checklist’s impact on practice patterns.
Results: Following checklist implementation, total ICU organ donor referrals increased by approximately 14.8%, rising from 27 referrals in the year prior to 31 referrals post-implementation. Nurse-initiated referrals showed a significant increase, with 15 out of 31 referrals (48.4%) originating from nurse utilizing the checklist, compared to zero nurse-initiated referrals in previous years. This shift demonstrates increased nurse involvement and proactive participation in the early identification process. The results suggest that the checklist empowered nurses to facilitate timely recognition and referral of potential organ donors in the ICU.
Conclusion: The Nurse-Led Checklist contributed to a measurable improvement in the early identification and referral of potential donors in the ICU. The increase in overall referrals highlights the value of structured, nurse-driven interventions in enhancing donor detection and empowering nurses to take a more active role in the referral process. Continued staff education and protocol reinforcement are recommended to sustain and build on these improvements.