At Miami Valley Hospital, Erica Finnan, RN, BSN, works to savelives, but in a way that is different from the initial perception.In the midst of a tragic circumstance where the death of a loved oneis imminent, she is the person who can help a family give thegreatest gift -- life to someone else.
Once hope of a patient's recovery is gone, Finnan the in-houseprocurement transplant coordinator for Life Connection of Ohio, canset into motion the hope of organ donation. With consent from nextof kin or through an advance directive (as indicated on an Ohiodriver's license for example), Finnan begins the intricate process.
Finnan's prior experience as an ICU Nurse provides anunderstanding of patient and family care in critical illnesses andtrauma. Her background also helps her to be a caring, knowledgeableand supportive ally for families facing a decision for which manyare completely unprepared.
'We always respect the decision any family makes in regard todonation, but we always want to feel secure in the knowledge thatthey fully understood the option, the process, and the need,' shesaid.
'When you are talking about honoring the life and legacy of apatient and saving the lives of potentially eight people, there is alot that goes into making that a reality,' said Finnan with regardto her job which begins at the time of referral from the hospital.She stays with the organ donor at the bedside through the entireprocess which can take 24 hours, sometimes longer. Finnan also worksquickly to find the best matches with recipients through the UnitedNetwork for Organ Sharing (UNOS). There are many things that must beconsidered when placing donor organs with recipients including bloodtype, height, weight and tissue typing. Placement is done in strictaccordance with federal guidelines. The sooner an organ can betransplanted, the better the outcome for the recipient, so thesickest patients who are clos-
organ are the best candidates. It takes a team of dedicatedindividuals from hospital personnel to colleagues at LifeConnection, including Kandie Quick, ST, the organ preservationistwho helps set up the operating room fro the procedure of recoveringorgans to make the gift of life a reality.
Quick is also part of the transport process and workscollaboratively with other organizations. Saving lives through organrecovery and donation can be fast-paced and just as dramatic as itappears on television -- it's just more complicated. Quick will takedonor blood samples directly to the Community Blood Center in Daytonto have the blood typed so it can be matched to recipients.
'Once the surgical process has started, I take care of thesolutions that wash the blood out of the organs and start thepreservation process to maintain the quality of the organs untilthey can be transplanted into the recipient,' said Quick, whoreceived on-the-job training as a surgery tech at Emory UniversityHospital in Atlanta. 'Organs which can be successfully transplantedinclude heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestine.' LionsEye Bank and Community Tissue Service coordinate cornea and tissuerecovery following the organ donation process. Asked if her job isstressful, Quick replied, 'You do what you have to do. I know how toprioritize, and I fall back on my past experience,' said Quick, whopreviously worked in trauma. Quick's familiarity with organ donationincludes losing a brother, Sean, who became a donor.
'He and I had talked about this and we talked about it with ourparents. We knew his wishes so, when he died, we honored his wish.In my own grief process I could work through this and see thebenefits, I know how much respect and appreciation we have for thedonors -- it helps me affirm the value of Sean's gift.'
For students interested in any career in health care, theexperienced staff at Life Connection recommends keeping up withsciences in high school and getting into the field, even if thatmeans volunteering at a hospital.
Laurie Phillips, MPH, Life Connection's director of qualityservices and safety said, 'Health care has so many options,especially if that's where your heart is.'
Phillips, who first earned degree in communications, obtained hermaster's in public health from Wright State University to furtherher career goals.
'I'm proud of the program I went through at WSU because itprepared me for a different aspect of health care. It's a well-rounded program,' she added. One of Phillip's challenges is toincrease donations and transplants to patients who are waiting.
Cathi Arends, RN, director of community relations for LifeConnection, appreciates the opportunities and flexibility nursingprovides. Through marriage and raising a family, Arends always foundcareer opportunities that fit her lifestyle and passion.
'I love my job because every day is different and I work withsome of the best people, including the donor families I view asheroes. I get to see true greatness in people,' Finnan said.
'Knowing a loved one's death gave life to others can give a greatdeal of comfort and meaning to donor families. By turning a tragedyinto a miracle for someone else, hope is born.'
