NURSE'S ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF CORNEA DONATION FOR TRANSPLANTS IN AN EYE BANK: ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES (Atena Editora)

Abstract

This study reports the professional experience developed by nurses working in an Eye Bank in the State of Espírito Santo (BO). The service is responsible for the entire cornea donation process for transplant purposes, from identifying the potential donor to the storage and distribution of donated corneas. Given the Covid19 pandemic, cornea donations were suspended in 2020 for approximately 6 months, a fact that had a negative impact on the state's list of transplant patients. At the end of 2020, the OR received four nurses assigned to the cornea donation process, following a series of restrictions imposed by the competent bodies. The guiding question of the study is how can nursing work in an Eye Bank to guarantee the supply of corneas in critical scenarios? Aiming to demonstrate the importance of nursing work working at the Eye Bank for the effectiveness of the cornea donation process. This is a descriptive study of the experience report type. Nursing work at the Eye Bank is in accordance with Resolution Number: 710/2022. The Eye Bank represents a field of action for nurses and requires development, human and technical competence, ensuring the integrality of the work process, whether in approaching families, tissue processing or technical support, being evidenced mainly in catastrophic situations such as the pandemic that interfered with quality and safety. It was possible to observe the active participation of nurses in all stages of the cornea donation process, being a valuable member of its implementation. A small number of studies were identified regarding nurses' skills in donating corneas and their role in the service at the Eye Bank.