Organ Donation: The Essentials for Healthcare Professionals
Understand the key processes regarding organ donation with this course for healthcare professionals, anywhere in the world.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
2 hoursLanguages
English, Italiano, Español, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Italiano, Español
Organ Donation: The Essentials for Healthcare Professionals
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Learn about different aspects of organ donation in this CPD-approved course
Despite organ donation being hugely important there is currently limited training for healthcare workforce regarding the complex issues around organ and tissue donation. This course aims to change that.
On the course, created in collaboration with the NHS Blood and Transplant service, you will learn about the basic principles and processes involved in organ donation from the legal aspects, to types of donation, to the importance of communication with families.
Please note that this course will be facilitated by the educators on the third Monday of every month.
Syllabus
Week 1
What is organ donation?
Introduction to the course
In these first few steps, you will be introduced to the course and the lead educators and obtain an overview of the learning objectives and content to be covered in the first week.
Why it matters: Overview and epidemiology
In this activity, we look at the importance of organ donation in healthcare, the role of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in the UK and how potential donors can be identified.
Criteria for donation
In this activity, we look at the different types of donation as well as the medical conditions and eligibility criteria for becoming an organ donor.
Legal and ethical matters
In this activity, we explore the main legal and ethical matters surrounding organ donation and consider the importance of organ donation legislation.
Making it happen
In this activity, we look at the role of the specialist nurse in organ donation (SNOD) and their approach to discussing organ donation with potential donors and their loved ones.
What have I learnt this week?
In these last few steps, you will review the week's activities, get a sneak preview of next week's topics, and take a short quiz to find out what you have learned so far.
Week 2
The organ donation process
Donation after Death by Neurological Criteria (DNC, previously known as donation after brainstem death, DBD)
In this activity, we look at how healthcare professional diagnose death and consider the most common type of solid organ donation, Donation after Death by Neurological Criteria (DNC)
Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD)
In this activity, we look at Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) which is described as the retrieval of organs for the purpose of transplantation following death confirmed using the circulatory criteria.
Checking suitability & managing the potential donor
In this activity, we look at ongoing management of the potential donor, to keep their organs healthy while other processes for checking the suitability of potential donors are carried out.
The organ retrieval process
In this activity, we look at the organ retrieval process, focusing on the anaesthetic, theatre and organ retrieval teams, the theatre process and the final cares of the patient.
Family care and follow up
In this activity, we look at how the family are supported during and after donation.
Course wrap-up
In these final few steps, we will wrap up the course as a whole and reflect upon what we have learnt.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explain the importance and basic principles of organ donation
- Summarise the types of donation, organs which can be donated and the absolute contraindications for donation
- Identify the key processes associated with organ donation such as referral, family consent, patient assessment, management of potential donors and organ allocation
- Describe assessing and diagnosing death by neurological criteria and management of a brainstem dead patient
- Evaluate the importance of laws and guidance that governs the process of organ donation and transplantation
- Describe tissue donation and how this is facilitated in UK
- Reflect upon the importance of family communication in the organ donation process
Who is the course for?
This course is for Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation (SNODs), and healthcare professionals such as nurses and doctors of all levels of experience who wish to either update their knowledge or improve their awareness of the subject, for personal or CPD reasons. It will also be useful for students training to become healthcare professionals.
This course is part of a partnership between City St George’s, University of London and FutureLearn that is coming to an end. As a result, this course will retire on 24 August 2026.
Please note that the course content, data and materials are no longer being actively updated and may not reflect the most recent developments in this subject area.
We encourage you to enrol on course before the retirement date if you wish to take part.
Who will you learn with?
Professor of Epilepsy & Medical Education; Mother of a son who donated his organs
Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation (SNOD)
NHS Blood and Transplant UK.
Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation 2009 - 2016 NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT). Base: St Georges Hospital. Practice Development Specialist (PDS) NHSBT 2016 - present
Who developed the course?
City St George's, University of London (formerly St George's)
City St George’s, University of London (formerly St George’s) School of Health and Medical Sciences is a leading provider of education in the fields of healthcare, medicine and psychology.
NHS BT
NHS Blood and Transplant provide a blood and transplantation service to the NHS, looking after blood donation services in England and transplant services across the UK.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
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Join the conversation on social media
You can use the hashtag #FLorgandonation to talk about this course on social media.