DIAGNOSTICS OF BRAIN DEATH

V diplomski nalogi je opisana vloga zdravstvene nege pri diagnosticiranju možganske smrti. Namen diplomskega dela je bil predstaviti naloge medicinske sestre pri pacientu z diagnosticirano možgansko smrtjo ter predstaviti najpogostejše etične dileme, s katerimi se srečujejo medicinske sestre pri obravnavi možgansko mrtvega pacienta. Pri pisanju diplomske naloge smo uporabili deskriptivno metodo dela. S pomočjo strokovne literature smo v strukturni obliki prikazali najnovejša spoznanja. Predstavili smo zakonodajo na področju ugotavljanja možganske smrti, opisali posamezne klinične teste in preiskave, s katerimi potrdimo možgansko smrt in izpostavili polemike glede dokončnosti možganske smrti. Izčrpno smo predstavili vlogo medicinske sestre pri samem procesu diagnosticiranja, opisali njene naloge pri oskrbi možgansko mrtvega pacienta in izpostavili najpomembnejše etične dileme, s katerimi se srečujejo pri obravnavi takšnega pacienta. Ugotovili smo, da je oskrba možgansko mrtvega pacienta eden največjih izzivov medicinskih sester, saj se borijo z osebnimi nasprotji razumevanja možganske smrti in so hkrati temeljna opora ter vir informacij pacientovi družini. Odnos z družino možgansko mrtvega pacienta in zadovoljevanje njihovih potreb zahteva visoko izobraženo medicinsko sestro s številnimi spretnostmi in bogatimi izkušnjami.The thesis describes the role of nursing care in the process of brain death diagnosis. The aim of the thesis was to present the tasks of a nurse in patients diagnosed with brain death. We presented the most common ethical dilemmas faced by the nurses when treating a brain-dead patient. The descriptive method was used and by using the scientific literature, the latest findings were presented in a structural form. We presented the legislation in the area of determining brain death, we described specific clinical tests and examinations used to confirm brain death and we pointed out controversies regarding the finality of brain death. We presented in detail the role of nurses during the process of diagnosis, their tasks when caring for a brain-dead patient and we highlighted the most important ethical dilemmas faced in the treatment of these patients. We determined that caring for brain-dead patients is one of the greatest challenges faced by nurses, as they are struggling with personal conflicts of understanding brain death and at the same time present the primary support and source of information for the patient’s family. The relationship with the family of a brain-dead patient and meeting their needs requires a highly educated nurse with many skills and extensive experience