The co-existence of life and death for the perioperative nurse.

Death and life co-exist in organ procurement surgery; untimely death for one provides hope for continued life for others. Drawing from interactionist theory, the impact of personal and environmental forces and functions specific to organ procurement surgery were examined. Seven nurses (6 women, 1 man aged 34-58 years) were provided with an opportunity to describe their experiences. Three core themes emerged from the qualitative analysis of the interviews: existential issues, coping strategies, and support for each other. Nurses spoke of ways in which they contribute to this challenging work and draw on inner resources.